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THE  LAKE   SHORE   SERIES. 


LIGHTNING  EXPRESS; 


OK, 


THE   RIVAL  ACADEMIES. 


BY 


OLIVER    OPTIC, 


AUTHOE    OF    "  TOUNG    AMERICA    ABROAD,"    "  THE    ARMY    AND    KAVT    STORIES," 

"THE   WOODVILLE   STORIES,''   "THE   BOAT-CLUB  STORIES," 

"  XUE  STARRY  FLAG   SERIES,"   ETC. 


BOSTON : 
LEE     AND     SIIEPAKD,    PUBLISHERS. 

KEW   YOUK: 
LEE,  SIIETAHD   AND   DIM, INGHAM. 

1810. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1870, 
By  WILLIAM  T.  ADAJVIS 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington, 


tlectrotyped  at  the 

Boston    Stereotype    Foundry, 

19  Spring  Lane. 


TO 


HI  YOUNG  FEIEND 


JAMES   DEWITT   CARSON 


IS  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 


TSE  LAKE  SHORE  SEMIES, 


1.  THROUGH  BY  DAYLIGHT ;   or,  The  Young  Engineer 

of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad. 

2.  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS;    or,  The  Rival  Academies. 

3.  ON    TIME;     or,     The    Young    Captain    of    the    Ucayga 

Steamer. 

4.  SWITCH   OFF:   or.  The  War  of  the  Students. 

5.  BRAKE   UP;   or,  The  Young  Peacemakers. 

6.  BEAR  AND  FORBEAR;  or,  The  Young  Skipper  of  Lake 

Ucaj'ga. 


PREFACE. 


Lightning  Exphess  is  the  second  volume  of  the  Lake 
Shore  Series,  and  has  been  published  in  Oliver  Optic's 
Magazine,  Our  Boys  and  Girls.  The  story,  like  its  prede- 
cessor, relates  to  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  though  the  war 
between  the  rival  academies  occupies  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  book.  Waddie  "Wimpleton  and  Tommy  Toppleton,  as 
they  appear  in  these  volumes,  are  not  strangers,  in  real  life, 
to  the  writer;  and  probably  all  his  readers  are  familiar  with 
similar  young  gentlemen  in  their  own  spheres. 

The  author  has  endeavored  to  keep  the  moral  movement  of 
the  story  up  to  the  proper  standard,  and  is  not  afraid  that 
any  reasonable  young  man  will  like  either  Tommy  or  Waddie 
well  enough  to  imitate  their  conduct,  while  he  is  satisfied  that 
all  will  be  pleased  with  the  moral  heroism  of  "Wolf  Penniman, 
and  will  indorse  his  views  of  Christian  duty. 

Habbisom  Square,  Mass., 

July  21,  1869. 

(6) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 
A  Stockholders'  Meeting 11 


CHAPTER   II. 
The  Stockholders  in  Council 22 

CHAPTER    III. 
The"  President  of  the  Road 34 

CHAPTER    IV. 
Off  fob  th£  Camf 45 

CHAPTER   V. 
A  Breezt  Prospect  ahead 57 

CHAPTER    VI. 
A  Mission  of  Peace G9 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Major  Tommy  gets  mad 81 

(7) 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER     VIII. 
Charge  Bayonets!     .....      93 

CHAPTER    IX. 
Feathers  and  the  Engineer 104 

CHAPTER   X. 
Keeping  the  Peace 116 

CHAPTER   XI. 
At  the  Horse  Shoe 128 

CHAPTER    XII. 
Up  the  Lake 139 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
If  thine  Enemt  hunger „    «    150 

CHAPTER   XIV. 
Colonel  WmPLEiON  bids  high 162 

CHAPTER   XV. 
She  Impending  Battle 174 

CHAPTER    XVI. 
fHE  Battle  of  the  Horse  Shoe 186 

CHAPTER    XVII. 
The  Prisoner  of  "War 198 


COXTENTS. 


9 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 
Rescuing  a  Prisoner 210 

CHAPTER    XIX. 
A  Ttrannical  Son 222 

CHAPTER    XX. 
The  Lightning  Express  Train 233 

CHAPTER    XXI. 
Making  vf  Time 244 

CHAPTER    XXII. 
The  New  Fireman -     .     .     .     254 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 
The  President  and  the  Engineer 2CG 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 
The  President  has  a  Fall 278 

CHAPTER    XXV. 
The  President  in  Trouble 290 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 
The  New  Steameb 300 


LIGHTNING    EXPRESS; 


OK, 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES 


CHAPTER  I. 

A  stockholders'  meeting. 

«  y^RDER,  gentlemen,  order!"  said  Mr.  Tommy 
\_^  Toppleton,   rapping    his    gavel    on   the   desk 
before   him.      "While   I   am   president  of  the   Lake 
Shore  Railroad,  I  will  have  order!" 

Tommy  was  the  son  of  his  father;  on  this  ques- 
tion there  could  be  no  dispute.  Not  only  was  his 
father  a  great  man,  but  Tommy,  in  his  own  esti- 
mation, was  a  great  man  also ;  on  this  question, 
unfortunately,  there  was  some  dispute.  Perhaps  it 
was  the  young  gentleman's  misfortune,  certainly  it 
was  not  his  fault,  that  he  was  the  only  son  of  a 

(11) 


12  LIGHTXING   EXPRESS,   OR 

very  rich  father,  and  had  been  indulged  until  he 
was,  so  far  as  the  circumstances  would  admit,  a 
spoiled  child.  He  had  many  excellent  qualities ; 
but  he  had  come  to  think  that  among  the  boys  he 
was  the  central  figure,  and  that  without  him  they 
were  nothing,  and  could  do  nothing. 

Tommy  regarded  other  boys,  even  the  students 
of  the  Toppleton  Institute  who  were  his  equals  in 
wealth  and  social  jDosition,  as  in  some  sense  foot- 
balls for  his  capricious  toes.  Many  of  his  conij^an- 
ions  did  not  like  him,  because  he  "jDut  on  airs," 
because  he  was  overbearing  and  tyrannical  to  his 
inferiors,  and  because  he  always  claimed  the  high- 
est position  and  the  loftiest  dignity  among  them. 
When  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company  was  or- 
ganized, he  was  elected  one  of  the  board  of  direct- 
ors, and  then  by  them  was  chosen  president.  He 
had  filled  this  office  from  the  beginning,  and  he 
expected  always  to  fill  it. 

The  company  had  been  in  operation  about  a  year, 
during  which  time  it  had  dealt  mainly  with  imagi- 
nary certificates  of  stock,  bonds,  rolling  stock,  and 
other    material,   the    object    being  to  give   the   stu- 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  13 

dents  a  knowledsje  of  railroad  business.  The  actual 
building  of  the  road  had  rendered  the  company 
somewhat  more  real;  but,  as  all  the  proj^erty  "svas 
in  fact  owned  by  Major  Toppleton,  who  held  the 
bonds  of  the  company  for  its  full  value,  it  was  still 
to  the  students  an  educational  rather  than  a  prac- 
tical business  enterj^rise.  The  real  owner,  there- 
fore, was  the  real  manager  of  the  road.  He  told 
the  directors  what  votes  to  pass,  and  they  were 
]>liant  enough  to  obey.  All  the  forms  of  electing 
officers,  appointing  the  superintendent,  road-master, 
engineers,  and  other  officers,  were  punctiliously  ad- 
hered to. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  represented  by  two  thousand 
shares  of  one  hundred  dollars  each,  which  had  been 
apportioned  among  the  students  of  the  Institute,  in 
unequal  parts.  Some  owned  one  hundred  shares, 
others  only  two  or  three.  Tommy  Toppleton  was 
the  happy  possessor  of  a  quarter  part  of  the  capital 
stock  of  the  concern,  and  threw  five  hundred  votes, 
each  representing  a  sliare,  in  a  stockholders'  meet- 
ing.     An   account   was    kept   with    each    owner   of 


14  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,  OE 

stock,  and  transfers  from  one  to  another  were  fre- 
quent. I  am  sorry  to  detract  from  the  dignity  of 
the  enterprise  by  confessing  that  a  share,  whose  par 
value  was  one  hundred  dollars,  was  frequently  bar- 
tered away  for  a  pint  of  pea-nuts,  though,  as  the 
road,  like  many  others,  was  mortgaged  for  its  full 
value,  perhaps  the  compensation  was  adequate. 

Two  thousand  mortgage  bonds  of  one  hundred 
dollars  each  had  been  issued,  duly  signed  by  the 
officers,  and  bearing  interest  at  seven  per  cent.  As 
the  company  had  no  receipts  for  the  first  quarter 
of  the  year,  the  railroad  was  heavily  in  debt,  and 
the  students  were  not  likely  to  be  burdened  with 
any  extra  spending  money  from  their  dividends.  I 
had  run  the  dummy  during  the  fall  and  winter, 
carrying  passengers  as  far  as  Grass  Springs ;  not  for 
the  fun  of  it,  but  at  regular  fares  —  twenty  cents 
to  Spangleport,  five  miles  distant,  fifty  cents  to  the 
Springs,  thirteen  miles,  and  between  the  two  latter 
points,  thirty  cents.  There  had  been  considerable 
travel,  enough  to  make  a  breeze  with  the  steam- 
boat company,  though  not  enough  to  pay  the  inter- 
est and  expenses  of  running. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  15 

As  the  students  were  not  permitted  to  neglect 
their  studies  for  the  purpose  of  serving  as  con- 
ductors and  engineers,  outsiders  had  been  employed 
to  some  extent.  Major  Toppleton  did  not  regard 
the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  as  a  mere  plaything.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  he  had  procured  his  charter,  and  he 
had  expended  an  immense  sum  of  money  on  the 
road  since  he  commenced,  for  his  ideas  had  enlarged 
as  he  progressed,  and  he  intended  to  have  a  regular 
line  to  TJcayga,  at  the  foot  of  the  lake.  In  a  quiet 
way  he  had  bought  up  the  stock  of  the  steamboat 
company,  and  a  report  was  circulated  in  the  spring 
that  the  boats  would  run  only  between  Middleport 
and  Ilitaca,  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  when  the  rail- 
road was  completed.  The  Centreporters  were  filled 
with  horror  and  indignation,  for  this  scheme  would 
leave  them  no  means  of  communication  with  TJcay- 
ga, on  the  great  lines  of  railroad,  except  by  the  way 
of  Middleport,  and  would  compel  them  to  patron- 
ize the  hated  Lake  Shore  line.  But  this  project  was 
only  rumored ;  it  had  not  yet  been  developed. 

The  assembly  in  wliich  Mr.  Tommy  Toppleton 
insisted    that   order   should    be    preserved   while    he 


16  LIGIITNIXG   EXPKESS,   OK 

was  the  president  of  the  Lake  Shore  RaUroad,  was 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  at  which  the 
election  of  officers  was  to  take  place.  By  permis- 
sion of  Major  Topplcton  I  was  allowed  to  own  five 
shares  in  the  road,  though,  as  I  was  not  a  member 
of  the  Institute,  I  was  not  eligible  as  a  purchaser 
of  stock.  But  I  felt  an  interest  in  the  enterprise, 
1  and  an  interest  in  the  method  of  conductinc:  the 
business,  and  I  had  purchased  my  stock  at  a'  fear- 
/  ful  depreciation  from  the  par  value.  One  of  the 
',  fellows,  by  the  name  of  Limpenfield,  had  run  out 
of  pocket  money,  and  being  sorely  tempted  to  en- 
joy a  feast  of  cream  cakes,  I  had  taken  advantage 
of  his  necessities,  and  bought  five  shares  for  twenty- 
five  cents! 

The  meeting  threatened  to  be  rather  stormy,  for 
I  happened  to  know  that  there  were  two  tickets 
in  the  field  for  a  board  of  directors,  on  one  of 
which  the  name  of  Tommy  Toppleton  did  not  ap- 
'  pear,  though  the  canvassing  had  been  so  carefully 
•i  conducted  that  the  person  principally  concerned  had 
no  suspicion  of  his  own  unpopularity,  and  least  of 
all   that  the   stockholders  would  have   the   audacity 


THE    EIVAIi    ACADEMLES.  17 

to  tip  him  out  of  his  exalted  position.  But  this 
question  had  not  yet  come  to  an  issue/  The  ex- 
citement was  over  another  matter. 

"I  move  you  that  we  proceed  to  the  election  of 
officers  at  once,"  said  Barnscott. 

"I  move  you  that  we  adjourn  to  Grass  Springs!" 
shouted  Wetherstane. 

"Second  the  motion!"  added  Putnam. 

"  Order,  gentlemen !  What  motion  do  you  sec- 
ond, Putnam?"   demanded  the  president. 

"The  motion  to  adjourn  to  Grass  Springs,  of 
course." 

"What  do  we  want  to  adjourn  to  Grass  Springs 
for?"  demanded  Barnscott. 

"  Question !  Question ! "  called  the  crowd. 

"  There  is  no  motion  before  the  stockholders ! " 
roared  Tommy,  hammering  the  desk  vigorously  with 
liis  gavel,  for  he  was  a  model  presiding  officer,  and 
would  no  more  have  served  in  this  capacity  Avithout 
a  gavel  than  he  would  have  gone  to  meeting  with- 
out a  coat. 

"  Mr.  President,  I  made  a  motion,"  said  Barnscott. 

"So  did  I,"  added  Wetherstane. 
2 


18  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"Neither  of  them  is  before  the  house.  Gentle- 
men, you  interrupt  the  comjiany's  business  by  your 
disorder.  I  insist  that  the  proceedings  be  conducted 
with  parliamentary  propriety."  Tommy  had  been  to 
the  legislature  with  his  father  when  the  charter  was 
obtained,  and  indulged  in  technical  phrases  which 
all  the  students  did  not  fully  comprehend. 

"  I  move  you  —  " 

"Order!"  screamed  Tommy,  at  the  top  of  his 
lungs,  and  as  savage  as  a  yellow  wasp 

"  I  move  you  —  " 

"  Order !  "  repeated  the  vigorous  jKeiident,  indi- 
cating each  of  the  movers  by  pointing  at  them 
with  his  gavel.  "Take  your  seat,  Barnscott!  Sit 
down,  AYetherstane !  This  business  shall  be  done 
in  an  orderly  manner,  or  not  at  all ; "  and  Tommy 
swelled  up  till  he  was  as  big  as  the  presiding 
officer  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

"I  thought  this  was  a  free  country,  and  that 
the  stockholders  of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  had 
a  right  to  speak  in  the  meetings,"  growled  the  irre- 
pressible Barnscott. 

"  Sit  down  !  "   thundered  Tommy. 


THE   RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  19 

"I  have  a  certificate  for  ten  shares;  and  that 
gives  me  the  right  to  speak  and  to  vote  in  this 
meeting,"  added  the  indignant  Wetherstane. 

"Take  your  seat,  or  I  will  have  you  put  out  of 
the  hall !  "  yelled  the  president. 

"I'll  sell  my  stock  to  any  fellow  that  wants  it 
for  a  stick  of  molasses  candy,"  continued  the  wrathy 
Barnscott.  "  What  is  the  use  of  owninsr  stock  if 
you  are  to  be  muzzled  like  a  mad  doir  ? " 

"  Shall  we  have  order,  or  not  ? "  cried  the  presi- 
dent, disgusted  with  the  irregular  proceedings  of 
the  turbulent  stockholders. 

"Order!  Order!"  shouted  a  respectable  majority 
of  the  assembly. 

Tommy  was  evidently  out  of  breath,  and  disposed 
to  resort  to  disagreeable  measures.  The  meetin"- 
was  held  iu  the  chapel  of  the  Institute,  and  the 
|)rincipal,  if  not  the  major,  was  within  calling  dis- 
tance. Katlier  tlian  have  a  lecture  from  either  of 
ihem,  the  violent  makers  of  motions  subsided  for  a 
time,  and  permitted  the  president  to  do  the  lec- 
turing. Tommy  took  a  swallow  of  water  from  a 
tumbler  on   the  desk,  and    then    looked    majestically 


20  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OR 

around  the  room,  as  if  to  satisfy  himself  that  no 
further  disorder  was  intended,  and  that  the  turbu- 
lent ones  were  disposed  to  listen  to  his  remarks. 

"Gentlemen,  order  is  Heaven's  first  law,  and  it 
must  be  the  first  law  of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad 
Company,  especially  in  a  meeting  of  its  stockhold- 
ers," Tommy  began,  and  then  25aiised,  looking  as 
solemn  as  an  owl  at  noonday,  to  note  the  effect  of 
his  impressive  words. 

As  no  one  objected  to  this  proposition.  Tommy 
took  another  swallow  of  cold  water,  and  proceeded 
with  his  remarks. 

"No  business  can  be  done  while  we  are  in  con- 
fusion," he  continued,  with  due  seriousness,  as  he 
straightened  back  his  neck.  "  This  is  a  parliamenta- 
ry assembly,  like  the  legislature  of  the  state,  and 
we  purpose  to  do  all  things  in  a  parliamentary 
manner.  Such  bodies,  met  together  for  purposes 
of  debate,  are  subject  to  certain  well-established 
rules,  sanctioned  by  usage,  and  governed  by  prece- 
dents." 

"  Whew  !  "  whistled  Briscoe.  "  I  wonder  what 
book  he  stole  that  from." 


TOE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  21 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  President,  but  I  made  a 
motion,  which  was  properly  seconded,"  interrupted 
"Wetherstaue,  quite  mildly  now.  "I  don't  think  any 
other  business  can  be  brought  before  the  house  till 
that  one  has  been  settled." 

"The  motion  was  in  order,  —  a  motion  to  adjourn 
is  always  in  order,  —  but  it  was  not  properly  before 
the  stockholders.  The  motion  does  not  become  a 
question,  and  is  not  before  the  house,  until  it  has 
been  stated  by  the  presiding  officer.  A  motion  can- 
not be  entertained  until  it  has  been  seconded  ;  and 
made  and  seconded,  it  does  not  become  a  question 
until  it  has  been  stated  by  the  president.  One  ques- 
tion must  be  disposed  of  before  another  can  be  en- 
tertained. Gentlemen,  I  insist  upon  order.  I  am 
now  ready  to  hear  any  motion;"  and  Tommy,  hav- 
ing laid  down  the  law,  intended  that  everybody 
should  abide  by  it. 


22  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,   OR 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    STOCKHOLDERS    IN   COUNCIL. 

R.  TOMMY  TOPPLETON"  had  reduced  the 
riotous  assembly  before  him  to  a  tolerable 
degree  of  subjection.  The  president  was  obliged  to 
embody  in  his  own  person  the  dignity  of  the  Lake 
Shore  Railroad,  since  those  in  front  of  him  refused 
to  be  conscious  of  the  glory  of  being  stockholders. 
He  was  ready  to  hear  any  motion,  and  it  was  evi- 
dent that  he  intended  to  keep  the  peace.  But  the 
boys  were  really  excited.  They  had  been  discuss- 
ing the  interests  of  the  road,  and  some  of  their 
projects  would  certainly  jDrove  to  be  treasonable  to 
the  house  of  Toppleton.  It  must  be  confessed  that 
a  great  many  of  them  could  not  see  the  difference 
between  their  own  interests  and  those  of  the  road ; 
and  being  excited,  they  did  not  set  a  good  exani- 
ple  to  their  elders  in   Congress  and    other   delibera- 


"^^^^^plll 


TIHl'  EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  23 

tive  bodies,  but  behaved  very  much  like  full-grown 
men  on  similar  occasions. 

"Mr.  President,"  said  Wetherstane,  sjiringing  to 
his  feet,  as  soon  as  it  was  evident  that  a  motion 
was  in  order, 

"Mr.  President,"  called  Barnscott,  almost  at  the 
same  instant.     "I  move  —  " 

"  Wetherstane  has  the  floor,"  interposed  the  im- 
partial presiding  officer,  vigorously  pounding  the 
desk  with  his  gavel ;  and  I  must  say  he  made 
noise  €a|Dugh  to  entitle  him  to  preference  as  one 
of  the  gentlemanly  conductors  on  our  road,  where 
noise  seemed  to  be  at  a  premium. 

"  "What  sort  of  way  is  that  ? "  d^emanded  Barn- 
scott.    "  I  have  the  floor." 

"  Wetherstane  attracted  my  attention  first,  and 
he  has  the  floor,"  replied  Tommy,  decidedly. 

"  I  was  up  first,"  persisted  Barnscott. 

"Take  your  seat,  sir!"  roared  the  president;  and 
the  pine  boards  of  which  the  lid  of  the  desk  was 
composed  were  in  imminent  danger  of  being  frac- 
tured by  his  gavel. 

"  Mr.  President,  I  rise  to  a  point  of  order,"  said 
Leonox. 


24  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 


"  Order,  gentlemen  !  "  roared  Tommy.  "  I  have 
decided  that  Wetherstflne  has  the  floor.  If  any 
stockholder  is  so  disi^osed,  he  can  appeal  from  the 
decision  of  the  chair." 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  Tommy  Topj)leton 
did  not  permit  any  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the 
chair,  and  always  insisted  upon  having  his  own  way ; 
but  it  Avas  in  the  nature  of  a  triumph  for  him  to 
direct  the  deliberations  of  his  fellow-students,  and 
to  introduce  forms  and  methods  of  which  the  ma- 
jori^.y  of  them  had  never  heard.  ^m 

"J  ajDpeal  from  the  decision  of  the  chair,"  added 
Lennox. 

"Points  of  order  necessarily  take  precedence  of 
all  other  questions,"  said  Tommy,  with  the  utmost 
dignity  and  self-possession. 

"  Ahem ! "  coughed  a  fellow  in  the  crowd,  which 
brought  down  a  regular  board-splitter  from  the 
gavel. 

"The  chair  decided  that  Wetherstane  had  the 
floor.  An  appeal  is  taken.  The  question  now  be- 
fore the  house  is,  Shall  the  decision  of  tbe  chair 
stand    as  the   decision   of  the   stockholders?      This 


THE   KIVAL    ACADEMIES.  25 

question  is  debatable,  and  the  presiding  officer  may 
participate  in  the  discussion.  You  will  all  see  that, 
occupying  a  position  where  I  can  see  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  assembly,  I  could  not  very  well  make 
a  mistake  in  regard  to  who  spoke  first.  I  am  quite 
confident  that  Wetherstane  had  said  'Mr.  Presi- 
dent' befiDre  Barnscott  opened  his  mouth." 

Various  opinions  were  cxjiressed  by  individual 
stockholders,  and  they  were  about  equally  divided 
on  the  merits  of  the  question.  Each  claimant  for 
the  floof  had  half  a  dozen  advoi^ates,  who  were 
confident  that  their  man  had  spoken  first.  It  was 
really  a  matter  between  Tommy  and  the  stock- 
holders, which  they  were  likely  to  decide  as  they 
loved  or  hated  the  president. 

"  Question  !  Question  ! "  called  the  students,  when 
they  began  to  be  weary  of  the  fruitless  debate. 

"Those, in  favor  of  sustaining  the  decision  of  the 
chair  will  manifest  it  by  saying,  'Ay.'" 

"Ay!"  shouted  many  voices. 

"  Those  opposed  say,  '  No.' " 

"  No !  "  responded  the  determined  opponents  of  the 
president. 


26  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,    OR 

"It  is  a  vote!"  said  Tommy,  who  was  not  quite 
willing  to  believe  that  one  of  his  decisions  could 
be  reversed  by  a  majority. 

"A  vote!"  exclaimed  Lennox.  "Why,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent —  " 

"  Silence,  sir !  A  vote  cannot  be  debated,"  thun- 
dered Tommy,  with  awful  dignity.  "  Any  member 
has  the  riglit  to  doubt  the  vote,  and  call  for  a 
count." 

"  I  doubt  the  vote,  Mr.  President,  and  call  for  a 
count,"  added  Lennox.  ^^m 

"  The  vote  is  doubted,"  said  Tommy,  rapping  vio- 
lently to  repress  the  noise  aud  confusion.  "Those 
in  favor  of  sustaining  the  decision  of  the  chair  will 
rise  and  stand  uncovered  till  counted." 

"  Uncovered  ?  "  demanded  Briscoe.  "  Shall  we  take 
our  things  off?  " 

"  Order ! " 

Tommy's   friends,   and   those   who   had    not   back- 
bone enough  to  vote   against   his  decision,  rose  and 
were   counted.      I   voted   with   this    side    because   I 
really  believed  that  Wetherstane  had  spoken  first. 
*    "Twenty-one,"   said    the    president,   after  he    had 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  27 

counted  the  affirmatives ;  and  I  noticed  that  hia 
lips  were  compressed,  as  if  to  subdue  some  angry- 
emotions  which  he  felt  at  the  result. 

"  Those  opposed  stand  till  counted." 

A  large  majority,  obtaining  pluck  from  mere  num- 
bers, sprang  to  their  feet. 

"xVU  up!  All  up !"» shouted  the  more  demonstra- 
tive, of  the  rebels,  who  had  doubtless  been  to  town 
meetings  in  their  day. 

"  Order ! "  screamed  Tommy,  more  fiercely  than 
ever ;  n||f  the  vote,  to  him,  looked  like  factious 
opposition.  "Eighty-six  in  the  negative,"  he  added, 
when  he  had  completed  the  count. 

Silence  reigned  in  the  hall  then,  and  perhaps 
many  of  the  students  were  appalled  to  think  of 
Avhat  they  had  done.  They  had  actually  voted 
down  the  high  and  mighty  Tommy  Toppleton, 
whose  word  was  law.  The  experience  of  the  na- 
tions that  deliberative  bodies  are  not  favorable  to 
llie  rule  of  tyrants  was  in  a  fair  way  to  be  realized 
by  the  heir  of  the  house  of  Toppleton.  The  boys 
watched  the  president,  expecting  an  outburst  of 
indignation    and    wrath    at   his   defeat;    but,  happily, 


*2S  LIGIITiSnXG   EXPRESS,    OR 

the  dignity  of  tlie  presiding  officer  prevailed  over 
the  feelings  of  the  individuul,  and  with  a  mighty  , 
struggle  he  repressed  his  emotions.  As  I  have  had 
occasion  to  say  before,  Tommy  was  in  the  main  a 
good  fellow;  he  would  have  been  a  first-rate  one 
if  he  had  not  been  spoiled  by  the  weak  indulgence 
of  his  father  and  mother.  He  had  been  taught  to 
have  his  own  way,  and  his  passions  were  a  volcano 
within  him,  ready  to  break  out  whenever  he  was 
thwarted.  I  am  inclined  to  think  this  was^he  first 
time  he  had  ever  conquered  himself^  and  'restrained 
his  wrath  when  defeated. 

"The  decision  is  in  the  negative,"  added  Tommy, 
with  admirable  self-possession  for  one  of  his  tempera- 
ment.    "Barnscott  has  the  floor." 

" Mr.  President,"  said  the  lucky  claimant,  "I  move 
that  we  proceed  to  the  election  of  officers  for  the 
ensuing  year." 

"Second  the  motion,"  added  Faxon. 

"It  is  moved  and  seconded  that  the  stockholders 
proceed  to  the  election  of  officers,"  continued  Tom- 
my, who  could  not  see  why  all  this  storm  had  been 
created  on  so  simple  a  proposition.  "The  question 
is  now  before  the  house." 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  29 

"  Mr.  President ! "  shouted  Wethcrstane,  loud 
enouirh  to  have  been  heard  on  the  other  side  of 
tTcayga  Lake. 

"  Wetherstane,"  replied  Tommy,  indicating  that  the 
speaker  had  the  floor. 

"I  move  you  that  we  adjourn  to  Grass  Springs 
at  two  o'clock  this  afternoon,"  added  the  young  gen- 
tleman, who,  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt,  had 
tlie  floor  now. 

"  Second  the  motion,"  added  Putnam. 

"  It  nPknoved  and  seconded  that  we  adjourn  to 
Grass  Springs  at  two  o'clock  this  afternoon,"  repeat- 
ed the  president,  wondering  what  this  movement 
meant. 

"  What's  to  be  done  with  my  motion  ?  "  demanded 
Barnscott.  "  I  thousrht  one  tliinoj  had  to  be  settled 
before  another  was  brought  uj^." 

"A  motion  to  adjourn  is  always  in  order,"  said 
tlic  president. 

"31r.  President,  I  rise  to  a  point  of  order,"  in- 
terjjo.sed  Skotchley,  a  quiet  kind  of  fellow,  who  had 
studied  deeper  into  parliamentary  law  than  even 
Tijniiny  Toj)[)leton,  for  he  had  been  the  jiresiding 
oflicer  of  a  juvenile  debating  society. 


30  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,    OR 

"  State  your  point,  Skotchley." 

"I  respectfully  submit  that  the  motion  to  adjourn 
is  not  in  order,  for  the  reason  that,  to  entitle  it  to 
precedence,  it  should  simply  be  a  motion  to  adjourn 
without  fixing  a  time." 

Tommy  was  nonplussed.  The  question  took  him 
out  of  his  depth.  lie  had  Cushing's  Manual  in  his 
pocket,  but  it  Avould  not  be  dignified  to  consult  it 
in  the  presence  of  the  stockholders.  However,  he 
knew  that  Skotchley  was  well  posted,  and  he  deemed 
it  prudent  to  follow  his  lead.  ^^ 

"  The  chair  decides  that  the  point  is  well  taken, 
and  that  the  motion  to  adjourn  is  not  in  order," 
said  he,  though  probably  he  would  not  have  been 
so  pliant  if  he  had  not  been  opposed  to  the  sub- 
stance of  the  motion.  "  By  the  ruling  out  of  this 
motion,  Barnscott's  is  now  in  order." 

"  That's  a  pretty  how  d'ye  do  !  "  exclaimed  Putnam. 

"  Order !  The  motion  to  proceed  to  the  choice 
of  officers  is  now  before  the  house." 

"  Mr.  President,  I  move  to  amend  the  motion  by 
the  addition  of  the  words,  '  at  Grass  Springs  at  two 
o'clock  this  afternoon,'"  said  Wetherstane. 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  31 

"  Second  the  motion,"  added  Putnam,  who  was 
evidently  "in  the  ring,"  for  he  seconded  only  the 
Grass  Springs  motions. 

Tommy  stated  the  amendment,  and  there  was  a 
silence  of  a  minute  or  two,  for  a  wonder.  Then 
Barnscott  did  not  see  why  the  amendment  had 
been  brought  forward,  and  wanted  to  know  what 
Grass  Springs  had  to  do  with  election  of  officers. 
He  evidently  was  not  "  in  the  ring."  lie  should 
vote  against  the  amendment,  and  he  hoped  all  the 
rest  of  tlSe  stockholders  Avould  do  the  same. 

"  Mr.  President,"  said  Briscoe,  Avho  had  more 
pluck  than  most  of  his  companions,  "  who  ever 
heard  of  the  stockholders  of  a  railroad  holdin<r  a 
meeting  for  the  election  of  officers  right  in  the 
place  where  they  do  their  business?  It  is  con- 
trary to  custom,  and  I  protest  against  any  innova- 
tions. They  always  have  a  free  train,  and  take  the 
stockholders  to  a  place  where  there  is  a  good  hotel. 
After  they  have  voted,  they  have  a  first-rate  supper 
at  the  expense  of  the  corporation.  If  they  don't 
always  do  it,  tliey  always  ought  to  do  it.  I  am 
in    favor   of   having    this    meeting   at   the    hotel    in 


32  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

Grass  Springs,  and,  after  the  business  is  done,  of 
eating  as  good  a  supper  as  the  landlord  can  get 
up  for  us." 

"  Question  !  Question  !  "  shouted  the  stockhold- 
ers, who  seemed  to  be  unanimously  in  favor  of 
following  the  precedent. 

Barnscott  made  a  speech  in  favor  of  an  imme- 
diate election.  He  did  not  believe  stockholders 
usually  had  a  dinner ;  but,  as  he  continued  his  re- 
marks rather  longer  than  prudence  justified,  he  was 
intejTupted  by  calls  for  the  question.  # 

"  Are  you  ready  for  the  question  ? "  said  Tommy, 
who  did  not  know  what  to  make  of  the  remarkable 
proceedings  of  the  company.  "  You  can  vote  what 
you  please,  fellows ;  but  carrying  out  the  A'ote  is 
quite  another  thing.  You  can  vote  that  Lake  Ucay- 
ga  dry  up  if  you  like,  but  it  won't  dry  up." 

"  Dry  up ! "  shouted  some  of  the  ruder  ones. 
«  Question  ! " 

"  Those  in  favor  of  amending  the  motion  will  say 
'Ay,'"  added  the  president. 

The  motion  was  carried  by  a  majority  of  three  to 
one.    The  original  motion  was  then  passed  by  a  vote 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  33 

of  the  same  ratio.  Briscoe  then  moved  that  the 
directors  be  instructed  to  make  the  arrangements 
for  the  meetina:  and  the  dinner  in  the  afternoon, 
which  was  also  carried.  The  meeting  then  ad- 
journed ;  but  it  was  clear  enough  to  Tommy  Top- 
pleton  that  the  stockholders  were  taking  things  into 
their  own  hands,  and  that  his  father  would  have 
something  to  say  in  regard  to  the  astounding  vote. 
5 


34  LIGHTNING  EXPKBSS,  OS 


CHAPTER  HI. 

THB   PRESIDENT    OP   THE   ROAD. 

"^"TTHAT  does  all  this  mean,  Wolf?"  said  Mr. 
T  T  Tommy  Toppleton  to  me,  after  tlie  stock- 
holders' meeting  had  adjourned. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ? "  I  repeated,  moved  by  the 
condescension  of  the  high  and  mighty  scion  of  the 
house  of  Toppleton  in  addressing  me,  and,  in  some 
sense,  making  a  confidant  and  adviser  of  me. 

Probably  he  came  to  me  because  he  was  rather 
confused  in  regard  to  the  identity  of  his  friends.  As 
president  of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  he  had  ren- 
dered a  decision  from  which  the  stockholders  had 
appealed,  and  he  had  been  beaten  by  a  vote  of  four 
to  one.  He  was  vexed  and  mortified  at  the  result, 
and  was  disposed  to  regard  it  as  a  personal  insult. 
He  had  always  had  his  own  way,  and  could  see  no 
reason   why   he  should   not  always  have  it.     In  the 


THE   ETVAL   ACADEMIES.  35  • 

excitement  of  building  the  road,  the  students  had 
regarded  him  as  the  representative  of  his  father, 
who  was  doing  an  immensely  gi*eat  thing  to  add  to 
the  popularity  of  the  Toppleton  Institute ;  and  hig 
offensive  manner,  his  domineering,  haughty,  and  even 
tyrannical  conduct,  had  hardly  been  noticed.  But, 
after  the  road  had  lost  its  novelty,  the  lordly  de- 
meanor of  the  little  magnate  was  not  relished,  and 
he  was  beginning  to  feel  the  effects  of  his  con- 
duct. 

I  did  not  like  to  tell  Tommy  even  as  much  of  the 
real  tmth  as  I  knew  myself,  and  the  leaders  of  the 
opposition  had  not  taken  me  into  their  confidence. 
It  was  an  ungracious  task  to  inform  the  high-spir- 
ited, uncurbed,  and  wilful  young  gentleman  that  his 
fellow-students  were  dissatisfied  with  him,  and  that 
an  attempt  to  run  him  out  of  his  office  was  to  be 
made.  But  Tommy  put  the  question  squarely  to 
me,  and  I  could  not  well  avoid  the  issue.  He  evi- 
dently regarded  me  as  a  dependent  of  the  house  of 
Toppleton,  whose  will  could  only  be  the  reflection 
of  that  of  his  employers. 

"  What  does  it   mean?      That's   what   I   Avant    to 


36  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

know,"  added  Tommy,  his  flice  lighted  up  with  an 
excitement  which  thi*eatened  a  storm. 

"The  fellows  seem  to  be  disposed  to  do  things 
as  other  corporations  do,"  I  replied,  cautiously,  for 
I  did  not  wish  to  rouse  the  sleeping  lion  in  the 
little  lord. 

"  Wasn't  I  fair  and  impartial  ? "  demanded  he. 

"  I  think  you  were,"  I  replied ;  and  I  did  not  lose 
sight  of  the  fact  that  he  had  decided  against  Barn- 
scott,  whose  motion  he  favored,  when  he  gave  the 
floor  to  Wetherstane. 

"The  stockholders  voted  me  down  just  as  though 
they  meant  to  insult  me,"  continued  Tommy,  smart- 
ly. "Do  you  know  why  they  want  to  go  to  Grass 
Springs  to  elect  officers?" 

"For  the  sake  of  the  dinner,  I  suppose,"  I  an- 
swered. "  But,  Tommy,  there  is  going  to  be  an 
opposition  to  you,  at  this  election." 

"  An  opposition  to  me  ! "  exclaimed  the  president, 
amazed  at  the  intelligence. 

"I  have  only  heard  it  whispered  among  the  fel- 
lows." 

"What  have  I  done  that  the  fellows  should  be 
down  upon  me  ?  " 


THE   KIVAL   ACADEMIES.  37 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  ought  to  say  anything 
about  it,  Tommy.  It  is  really  none  of  my  business. 
I  shall  vote  for  you." 

"  If  you  know  anything  about  it,  tell  me,"  contin- 
ued Tommy,  ratlier  imperiously. 

"  I  only  know  that  there  is  another  ticket  for 
directors  in  the  field," 

"And  my  name  is  not  upon  it?" 

"No,  it  is  not." 

Tommy  stamped  his  foot  upon  the  floor,  and 
looked  decidedly  ugly.  I  was  rather  sorry  that  I 
had  said  anything,  though  it  was  better  for  him  to 
be    prepared  for  the  result  before  it  was  announced. 

"  TVolf,  I  don't  blame  you  for  this ;  but  I  want 
you  to  tell  me  all  about  it,"  said  he,  after  he  had 
partially  choked  down  his  wrath.  "  What  have  1 
done  to  set  the  fellows  against  me  ?  What  do  they 
say  about  it?" 

"They  say  you  put  on  airs  —  that  you  order  them 
around  as  thougli  you  were  their  master." 

"  Well,  I  am  president  of  the  road,"  said  he,  as 
if  this  were  a  fiuflicient  explanation ;  and  I  think  he 
really  considered  it  very  unreasonable  in  the  stu- 
dents to  object  to  his  conduct. 


38  LIGHTNIlfG  EXPRESS,   OB 

"I  only  tell  you  what  the  fellows  say." 

"Wolf,  do  you  think  I  have  put  on  airs?"  de- 
manded he. 

"  So  far  as  I  am  concerned  myself,  I  haven't  a 
word  of  fault  to  find,"  I  replied,   evasively. 

"  You  !  Well,  you  are  only  a  hired  hand,"  added 
he,  with  refreshing  candor.  "  Do  you  think  I  have 
treated  the  fellows  badly?" 

"  Not  badly ;  but  you  know  they  are  rich  men's 
sons,  and  consider  themselves  as  good  as  you  are." 

"But  my  father  built  this  road,  and  pays  for  every- 
thing.  Not  a  single  one  of  these  fellows  ever  gave 
a  cent  for  anything." 

"  I  don't  believe  the  money  makes  any  difference.'* 

"Why  don't  you  say  I'm  to  blame,  if  you  think 
so?"  snapped  he,  impatiently. 

"  I  believe  if  you  had  not  been  quite  so  sharp  with 
the  fellows  they  would  have  liked  you  better,"  I  an- 
swered, desperately.  "You  tell  them  to  do  this  and 
that,  and  order  them  just  as  though  they  were  ser- 
vants in  your  father's  house.  They  won't  stand  it. 
They  are  not  paid  for  their  work,  as  I   am." 

"  Thank  you  ;  yon  are  very  complimentary.  I  sup- 
pose you  will  call  me  a  tyrant  next,"  sneered  he. 


THE   KIVAL   ACADEMIES.  39 

"  I  am  only  telling  you  what  I  have  heard  the  fel- 
lows say,"  I  meekly  responded. 

"  "Why  didn't  you  tell  me  this  before  ? "  snarled 
he ;  and  I  was  fully  convinced  then,  if  I  had  not 
been  before,  that  honest  counsel  to  such  a  person 
is  a  thankless  task. 

Tommy  walked  up  and  down  the  hall  precisely  as 
his  magnificent  fither  would  have  done,  if  he  had 
been  vexed  and  disconcerted.  I  had  told  him  whole- 
some truth,  for  which  he  was  not  grateful  to  me. 

"  Come  with  me.  Wolf,"  said  he,  imperiously,  after 
he  had  considered  the  matter  a  while. 

The  rest  of  the  students  were  scattered  about 
the  building  and  play-ground  of  the  institute,  talking 
over  the  meeting,  or  electioneering  for  the  great  oc- 
casion, in  the  afternoon,  if  Major  Toppleton  did  not 
veto  the  proceedings.  I  followed  Tommy  over  the 
lawn,  where  many  of  the  students  were  assembled 
in  groups.  He  took  no  notice  of  them,  unless  it 
was  to  cast  angry  and  scornful  glances  at  them.  He 
led  the  way  to  his  father's  house,  where  wc  found 
the  major  in  his  library. 

"  Father,  we  may  as  well  burst  up  the  Lake  Shoro 


40  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

Railroad,  so  far  as  tbe  students  are  concerned,"  said 
the  irate  and  disgusted  president  of  the  company. 

"What's  the  matter  now,  Tommy?"  asked  the 
major,  looking  up  from  the  newspaper  he  was  reading. 

"  They  are  going  to  run  me  off  the  ticket  for 
directors,"  growled  Tommy,  dropping  heavily  into 
an  arm-chair,  as  though  the  end  of  the  world  had 
come,  and  there  was  nothing  more  to  live  for.  "  They 
Bay  I  have  been  putting  on  airs." 

"  Perhaps  you  have.  Tommy  ! "  suggested  the 
major,  who,  for  some  reason  or  other,  was  disposed 
to  receive  the  intelligence  very  good-naturedly. 

"  I  am  the  president  of  the  road,  and  have  only 
done  my  duty.  Fm  not  going  down  on  my  knees 
to  those  who  are  under  me." 

"But  a  certain  degree  of  gentlemanly  forbearance 
and  consideration  is  prudent  in  business  relations," 
added  the  major.  "  Now  let  me  hear  what  the  mat- 
ter is,  and  we  will  see  what  can  be  done." 

Between  Tommy  and  myself  we  told  the  great 
man  what  had  transpired  at  the  hall,  and  announced 
the  vote  of  the  stockholders,  relating  to  the  ad- 
journed  meeting   and  the  dinner.     The  major    actu- 


THE    EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  41 

ally  laughed  at  the  impudence  of  the  boys.  He 
was  a  politic  man  when  policy  paid  better  than 
violence.  There  was  certainly  a  breeze  among  the 
stockholders  of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad.  Tommy 
was  in  peril  of  losing  his  office,  which  would  leave 
the  owner  of  the  road  without  a  suitable  representa- 
tive in  the  board  of  directors.  The  movement  must 
be  checked,  or  the  connection  of  the  Institute  with 
the  road  must  be  dissolved. 

The  major  was  ready  to  act.  The  vote  of  the 
stockholders  was  to  be  carried  out  in  substance.  A 
free  train  to  Grass  Spring  was  to  be  run  at  one 
o'clock;  and,  at  the  invitation  of  the  president,  a 
supper  was  to  be  served  at  the  hotel  after  the 
njeeting.  This  course  would  conciliate  the  refrac- 
tory stockholders,  and  save  the  present  directors  from 
the  accident  of  being  turned  out  of  office.  Tommy 
seemed  to  be  of  the  opinion  that  the  stockholders 
ought  to  be  compelled  to  vote  for  him,  rather  than 
coaxed  into  it;  but  he  yielded  to  the  superior  expe- 
rience of  his  father,  and  consented  to  feast  the  elect- 
ors. He  was  instructed  to  invite  all  the  students 
to  the  supper,  and  to  have  it  specially  understood 
that  it  was   his  cntcrtaiumeut,  not   the  company's. 


42  LIGHTXING   EXPRESS,   OB 

There  was  yet  another  question  to  be  settled  by 
the  students,  but  not  in  their  capacity  as  stockhold- 
ers. The  military  department  of  the  Institute  was . 
still  maintained,  in  spite  of  the  novelty  of  the  rail- 
road.  The  boys  were  organized  as  a  battalion  of 
two  companies,  and  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  say 
that  Tommy  was  the  major.  It  was  the  custom  of 
the  Institute  to  camp  out  for  a  week  during  what 
was  called  the  home  vacation,  because  the  students 
did  not  generally  go  home  during  this  period.  The 
stockholders'  meeting  was  held  on  the  Saturday  pre- 
ceding this  vacation,  and  it  was  necessary  to  deter- 
mine where  and  when  the  camp  should  be  formed, 
for  this  question  was  left  to  the  students.  It  was 
proposed  to  hold  the  meeting  after  the  stockhold- 
ers adjourned,  when  the  major  would  call  the  bat- 
talion to  order. 

It  was  possible,  if  not  probable,  that  the  camping 
out  would  be  dispensed  with  the  present  year,  for  the 
new  locomotive  and  cars  had  just  arrived,  and  were 
lodged  in  the  houses  erected  for  them.  The  major 
had  instructed  me  —  or  rather  the  board  of  directors 
had  done  so  —  to   run  the   new  engine    on   Monday. 


THB   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  43 

It  was  thons^ht  that  the  students  would  not  be  in- 
clined  to  camp  out  with  this  new  excitement  in 
Btore  for  them. 

The  road  was  in  order  as  far  as  Grass  Springs, 
and  in  a  few  weeks  it  would  be  completed  to  Ucay- 
ga.  I  ran  regular  trips  to  the  former  place,  every 
two  hours,  on  the  dummy,  which  was  now  so  de- 
graded by  contrast  with  the  locomotive,  that  it  was 
of  small  account.  But  the  students  did  not  seem 
to  feel  that  degree  of  interest  in  the  new  order  of 
things  which  had  been  expected.  They  were  excit- 
ed when  the  locomotive  and  cars  arrived ;  shouted, 
yelled,  and  screamed  till  they  were  hoarse  ;  but  the 
fact  that  the  engine  was  not  to  be  used  as  a  play- 
thing by  any  one  who  desired  to  do  so,  operated  as 
a  damper  upon  the  boys.  Perhaps  Tommy,  more 
than  any  one  else,  was  responsible  for  this  state  of 
things ;  for  his  domineering  spirit  had  disgusted  his 
fellow-students. 

In  my  next  trip  on  the  dummy  Major  Toppleton 
went  to  Grass  Springs,  and  ordered  the  supper  fof 
the  stockholders.  At  one  o'clock  I  was  in  the  cab 
of  the  new  locomotive,  which,  in  compliment  to  the 


44  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

occasion,  was  to  make  its  first  trip  to  the  SjDrings. 
It  was  a  beautiful  machine,  of  about  two  thirds  of 
the  ordinary  size.  The  cars  were  of  a  correspond- 
ing size.  Never  was  an  engineer  prouder  and  hap- 
pier than  I  was  when  I  ran  the  engine  out  of  the 
house.  I  had  borrowed  some  flags  and  decorated  it 
for  the  great  occasion.  Faxon  was  with  me  in  the 
cab,  though  Lewis  Holgate,  the  sou  of  Christy,  who 
had  robbed  my  father,  was  employed  as  fireman. 

At  the  appointed  time  the  students  appeared,  and, 
after  giving  sundry  cheers  for  the  train,  took  tlieir 
seats,  and  I  started  the  locomotive.  I  felt  like  a 
real  engineer  then.  The  boys  screamed  as  the  train 
moved  off,  and  in  half  an  hour  we  put  on  the  brakes 
at  Grass  Springs.  The  students  hastened  to  tlie 
hotel  where  the  meeting  and  the  supjDer  were  to 
take  place.  Leaving  the  engine  in  charge  of  Lewis, 
I  hastened  to  the  meeting,  where  I  intended  to 
electioneer  for  Tommy  Toppleton. 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  45 


CHAPTER  IV. 


OFF    FOK    THE    CAMP. 


"  fT^HE  time  to  which  this  meeting  was  adjourned 

J-  has  arrived,  gentlemen,  and  you  are  requested 
to  come  to  order,"  said  Tommy  Toppleton,  rapping 
on  the  table  with  the  gavel,  which  he  had  been 
careful  to  bring  with  him. 

"Mr.  President,"  said  Baruscott,  springing  to  his 
feet,  with  half  a  dozen  others,  all  anxious  to  make 
the  first  motion. 

"  Barnscott,"  replied  Tommy,  giving  him  the  floor. 

"  I  move  you  we  proceed  to  the  choice  of  officers." 

"  Second  the  motion,"  added  Putnam. 

"  It  is  moved  and  seconded  that  we  proceed  to 
the  election  of  officers,"  repeated  the  president. 

"Question!  Question!"  shouted  the  stockholders; 
for  there  was  now  no  diflferenco  of  opinion  on  this 
point. 


46  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

The  motion  was  carried  without  opposition.  I 
had  intended  to  make  a  little  speech  myself  before 
any  business  was  done.  Indeed,  it  had  been  ar- 
ranged by  Tommy  and  his  father  that  I  should  do 
so;  but  Barnscott  was  too  quick  for  me. 

"Mr.  President,"  I  shouted,  as  soon  as  the  vote 
was  declared,  "I  have  a  word  to  say  to  the  stock- 
holders, if  you  will  allow  me  to  speak  directly  to 
them." 

"Go  on!   Go  on!"   yelled  the  students. 

"Gentlemen,  though  what  I  have  to  say  does  not 
exactly  belong  to  the  business  on  hand,  I  hope  it 
won't  be  taken  amiss,"  I  began.  "By  the  vote  of 
the  stockholders  this  morning,  the  expenses  of  the 
supper  to  be  provided  for  the  company  at  this  hotel 
were  to  be  paid  for  out  of  the  treasury  of  the  cor- 
poration. It  is  well  known  that  the  company  is  in 
debt,  that  the  interest  on  its  bonds  has  not  been 
paid.  The  president,  therefore,  in  consultation  with 
the  munificent  patron  of  the  road,  did  not  think  it 
right  to  use  the  funds  of  the  company  in  paying 
for  a  6ui)per." 

"  Aie  we  to  have  no  supper  ? "  demanded  Wether- 
Btane. 


THE   ETVAL   ACAJJEMIES.  47 

"We  are,"  I  replied,  earnestly.  "The  liberality 
of  the  president  of  the  road  is  well  known  to  all 
of  you,  and  I  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  you 
that  he  has  decided  to  provide  the  supper  at  his 
own  expense.  It  is  my  pleasant  privilege,  there- 
fore, to  invite  you,  in  behalf  of  President  Topple- 
ton,  to  a  supper*  at  this  hotel,  after  the  adjournment. 
I  wish  the  stockholders  especially  to  understand  that 
this  invitation  is  extended  by  the  president  in  his 
private  capacity." 

Some  applause  followed  my  speech ;  but  it  was 
by  no  means  as  general  and  hearty  as  I  desired. 
It  was  an  electioneering  movement,  and  with  this 
invitation  before  them,  I  did  not  see  how  the  stock- 
liolders  could  well  avoid  reelecting  Tommy.  I  saw 
the  leaders  of  the  opposition  looking  significantly  at 
each  other,  as  though  they  regarded  my  movement 
as  a  diversion  against  their  scheme.  A  committee 
to  collect,  count,  and  declare  the  vote  was  appointed 
by  tlie  chair,  and  indorsed  by  the  meeting;  and  I 
had  the  honor  to  be  one  of  the  three. 

During  the  voting,  intense  excitement  prevailed 
iii    the    hall.     It   was   a   general    jabber.     As   fur   a» 


48  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

my  duties  would  permit,  I  had  been  at  work  for 
Tommy.  I  had  vised  all  my  powers  of  persuasion 
to  induce  certain  large  stockholders  to  vote  for  him; 
hut,  as  fast  as  I  made  an  impression,  it  seemed  to 
he  removed  by  the  opposition,  and  when  the  meet- 
in  ec  assembled  I  was  not  sure  that  I  had  converted 
a  single  share,  for  each  of  which  a  vote  was  given. 
But  Tommy  was  reasonably  confident  of  an  election. 
He  threw  five  hundred  votes  for  himself  to  begin 
with,  as  the  representative  of  so  many  shares;  and 
one  more  than  the  same  number,  in  addition,  would 
elect  "him.  If  he  could  not  get  so  many  votes,  he 
was  more  unpopular  than  any  of  his  friends  sus- 
pected. 

"  Have  all  the  stockholders  voted  ? "  shouted  Tom- 
my.   "If  so,  I  declare  the  poll  closed!" 

The  committee  retired  to  sort  and  count  the  bal- 
lots, taking  with  us  the  stock  book,  in  order  to 
detect  any  illegal  voting.  I  do  not  think  any 
similar  occasion  among  full-grown  men  excited  more 
interest  and  anxiety  than  this  election.  Tommy 
Toppleton  was  really  on  trial  for  insolence  and 
tyranny,  and   the  result  was  to  be   his  acquittal  or 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  49 

conviction.  We  counted  the  votes ;  and  Faxon,  who 
was  the  chairman,  and  a  friend  of  the  president,  led 
the  way  to  the  hall,  with  the  result  written  on  a 
piece  of  paper  in  his  hand. 

"Order,  gentlemen!"  called  Tommy;  and  his  un- 
steady voice  indicated  the  anxiety  with  which  he 
waited  the  issue.  "  You  will  listen  to  the  report 
of  the  committee." 

"Whole  number  of  votes,  two  thousand,"  read 
Faxon,  while  breathless  silence  pervaded  the  hall. 
"Necessary  to  a  choice,  one  thousand  and  one. 
Thomas  Toppleton  has  eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
two  ; "  and  the  chairman  read  the  rest  of  the  names 
on  the  same  ticket,  who  had  nearly  all  the  vote. 
"Edward  Skotchley  has  twelve  hundred  and  eigh- 
teen." 

The  chairman  then  declared  that  Edward  Skotch- 
ley, and  the  others  on  both  tickets,  except  Tommy, 
were  elected.  Some  faint  applause  followed  the 
announcement ;  but  most  of  the  students  appeared 
to  be  appalled  at  what  they  had  done.  The  presi- 
dent's face  was  as  red  as  a  blood  beet,  and  I  ex- 
pected his  wrath  would  boil  over.  Even  the  supper 
4 


50  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

had  not  saved  him,  and  certainly  it  was  a  hard  case. 
I  was  sorry  for  Lira,  while  I  could  not  approve  of 
his  haughty  and  overbearing  manner.  I  went  up 
to  the  desk  with  the  intention  of  giving  him  what 
I  considered  good  advice. 

"Don't  get  mad,  Tommy,"  said  I,  in  a  low  voice, 
but  so  that  he  could  hear  me. 

"  It's  an  insult,"  added  he,  between  his  closed 
teeth. 

"Never  mind  if  it  is.  Don't  let  them  see  that 
they  are  punishing  you,"  I  added. 

This  last  remark  of  mine  had  the  desired  effect ; 
and,  to  my  astonishment,  he  smiled  as  blandly  as 
though  nothing  had  happened.  He  did  not  relish 
the  idea  of  letting  his  enemies  triumph  over  him, 
and  though  he  now  looked  like  peace  itself,  I  was 
satisfied  that  the  punishment  of  the  rebels  was  re- 
served for  another  occasion. 

"Mr.  President!" 

Both  Tommy  and  myself  looked  to  see   who  had 
the   audacity   to    break   the   imj^ressive   silence    that 
still  reigned  in  the  haU.      It   was    Skotchley  —  Ed 
ward  the  Silent,  as   he  was  often  called,  on  account 
of  his  quiet  way. 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  51 

"  Skotcliley,"  said  Tommy,  who,  though  he  did 
not  regard  his  successful  rival  very  favorably,  was 
hypocrite  enough  to  smile  sweetly  upon  him. 

"  Mr.  President,  I  wish  to  say  that  my  name  was 
used  without  my  knowledge  or  consent.  I  voted 
for  the  old  board  myself,  and  am  so  well  satisfied 
with  the  president,  that,  even  if  I  considered  myself 
qualified  for  the  position,  —  which  I  do  not,  —  I 
could  not  accept  it." 

"Toady!"  snuffed  some  of  the  students. 

Skotchley  glanced  at  the  knot  of  stockholders 
from  whom  the  offensive  word  had  come.  The 
quiet  dignity  of  his  manner  silenced  them. 

"  Under  no  circumstances  could  I,  or  would  I, 
accept  this  office,"  added  Skotchley,  as  he  seated 
himself,  amid  the  applause  of  Tommy's  friends. 

The  speaker  was  not  excused ;  but  he  adhered 
to  his  purpose,  and  the  students  Avcre  obliged  to 
ballot  again.  Tommy's  singular  conduct  in  not  get- 
ting mad  made  a  sensation.  The  students  could 
not  comprehend  it.  "While  the  second  ballot  was 
ill  progress,  he  sat  at  the  taljle,  cool  and  smiling. 
I   am    satisfied    it    was    this    conduct    alone    whicb 


52  LIGIITXING  EXPRESS,   OB 

created  a  reaction  in  his  favor ;  for  on  the  second 
ballot  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  one  hundred 
and  eleven.  He  accepted  the  position,  and  thanked 
the  stockholders  for  their  continued  favor,  as  coolly 
as  though  nothing  had  occurred  to  disturb  the  cur- 
rent of  his  thoughts. 

The  present  incumbents  of  the  other  elective 
offices  were  chosen  without  opposition,  and  the 
fluiTy  was  over;  but  it  was  clear  enough,  if  Tom- 
my did  not  mend  his  ways,  he  would  never  be 
elected  again.  The  affairs  of  the  railroad  were 
finished,  and  those  of  the  battalion  were  taken 
up.  Tommy  was  chosen  major  by  a  small  ma- 
jority, and  the  other  officers  were  elected.  The 
location  of  the  encampment  caused  considerable 
discussion.  Those  who  had  been  the  leaders  of  the 
opposition  in  the  railroad  company  Avere  in  favor 
of  pitching  the  tents  on  the  Horse  Shoe,  an  island 
on  the  lake,  opposite  Grass  Springs,  and  two  miles 
from  the  west  shore. 

Tommy's  party  advocated  the  Sandy  Bay  Grove, 
because  the  railroad "  passed  near  it.  They  urged 
that  the   Wirapletonians   usually   encamped    on   the 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  53 

Horse  Shoe.  One  of  the  other  side  was  bold  enough 
to  say  that  was  the  reason  why  he  wished  to  go 
there.  I  do  not  know  how  long  the  discussion 
would  have  lasted  if  the  landlord  of  the  hotel  had 
not  given  the  president  a  broad  hint  that  the 
supper  was  ready.  This  brought  the  matter  to  a 
crisis,  and  when  the  vote  was  taken,  there  was 
a  large  majority  in  favor  of  the  Horse  Shoe. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  the 
owner  of  the  island,  who  was  a  resident  of  Grass 
Springs. 

The  landlord  of  the  hotel  did  justice  to  himself, 
and  to  the  great  occasion  with  which  his  house 
had  been  honored.  Tommy  sat  at  the  head  of 
the  middle  table,  and  presided  with  dignity  and 
discretion.  Some  very  good  speeches  were  made, 
for  boys,  and  the  festival  was  a  decided  success. 
I  left  the  table  before  the  party  broke  up,  in  order 
to  have  the  locomotive  ready  for  the  return.  At 
six  o'clock  we  started.  Faxon  informed  me  that 
the  Horse  Shoe  had  been  engaged  for  the  enco^ip- 
ment,  and  that  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  was  to  \)0 
paid  for  the  use  of  the  island. 


54  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OR 

"But  I  can  tell  you  one  thing,  Wolf.  There  will 
he  one  of  the  joUiest  rows  over  there,  that  you 
ever  heard  of,"  added  Faxon. 

"I  hope  not." 

"  The  Wimpleton  fellows  were  going  there ;  aijd 
if  there  isn't  a  fight  before  the  week  is  out,  I  never 
will  guess  again." 

"Well,  do  our  fellows  know  it?'^  I  asked. 

"  Kiiow  it ! "  exclaimed  Faxon.  "  Of  course  they 
do,  and  that  is  tlie  particular  reason  why  they  want 
to  go  there." 

"Have  the  Wimps  engaged  the  island?" 

"  No ;  there  is  where  we  have  the  start  of  them. 
They  have  always  used  it  without  leave  or  license." 

It  did  look  like  an  exciting  time  for  the  next 
week.  As  soon  as  Tommy  Toppleton  understood 
the  reason  why  his  battalion  had  selected  the 
Horse  Shoe,  he  joined  heartily  with  them ;  for 
no  one  hated  the  Wimpletonians  more  thoroughly 
than  he  did.  He  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the 
project,  and  issued  his  order  for  the  march  at 
seven  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  so  as  to  reach 
the    island    before    the    enemy    could     take    posses- 


o 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEillES.  55 

sion  of  it.  I  was  directed  to  have  the  train  ready 
at  that  hour. 

Though  it  was  rather  late  when  we  anived,  the 
boys  went  to  work  in  making  the  preparations  for 
the  camp,  and  before  they  retired,  the  tents,  bag- 
gage, and  cooking  utensils  were  loaded  upon  one 
of  the  platform  cars.  Neither  the  major  nor  the 
principal  opposed  the  plan,  and  at  the  appointed 
time  on  Monday  morning,  I  had  the  train  drawn 
up  on  the  road  at  a  convenient  point  near  the  In- 
stitute, ready  to  furnish  the  "  transportation "  for 
the  battalion. 

Major  Tommy,  intent  upon  being  ahead  of  the 
enemy  on  the  other  side  of  the  lake,  was  on  time 
with  his  force.  The  battalion  was  to  be  reviewed 
by  the  principal  of  the  Institute  before  its  depart- 
ure, and  the  two  companies  marched  by  the  train, 
on  their  way  to  the  green  where  the  ceremony 
was  to  take  place.  As  they  passed  me,  I  saluted 
them  with  the  steam  whistle,  and  in  return  the 
warlike  heroes  cheered  the  train.  I  witnessed  tlio 
impressive    formalities    of   the    review,    and    having 


56  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OB 

moved  the  cars  forward,  I  heard  the  speech  of  the 
principal  at  the  close  of  the  performance. 

The  students  then  entered  the  cars.  I  gave  a 
tremendous  whistle,  and  off  we  went,  the  students, 
true  to  their  noisy  natures,  yelling  like  madmen. 
As  we  moved  on,  we  discovered  a  fleet  of  boats, 
loaded  with  "Wimpletonians,  sailing  down  the  lake. 


THE   ErVAI,   ACADEMIES.  57 


CHAPTER  V. 


BEEEZY   PEOSPECT   AHEAD. 


I  AM  not  quite  sure  that  Major  Toppleton  did  not 
know  the  Wimpletonians  had  selected  the  Horse 
Shoe  for  their  camp  ground,  and  that  a  collision  was 
likely  to  occur  between  the  students  of  the  rival 
academies.  If  he  did  know  it,  he  was  certainly  to 
blame,  even  though  the  Toppletonians  had  legal  pos- 
session of  the  land ;  for  a  man  is  morally  responsible 
far  beyond  the  letter  of  the  law.  It  was  plain 
enough  to  me  that  the  wire-pullers  on  our  side  had 
selected  the  Horse  Shoe  simply  because  it  was  the 
usual  encampment  of  their  rivals. 

The  Toppletonians  were  highly  excited  and  in- 
tensely belligerent.  The  jealousy  between  the  two 
Bides  of  the  lake  and  between  the  two  schools  had 
thoroughly  infected  them.  There  were  only  a  few 
who  were   not  ready  to  fight  for  the  banner  under 


58  LIGnXNING    EXPEESS,   OR 

which  they  marched.  While  I  confess  that  I  was  'to 
some  extent  a  partisan  for  the  Toppletonians,  I  could 
not  help  feeling  that  there  was  something  undignified 
and  unmanly  in  this  senseless  quarrel.  I  could  realize 
this  sentiment,  even  while  I  was  anxious  that  the 
Wirapletonians  should  not  "  get  ahead  "  of  our  side. 
I  was  not  in  love  with  Colonel  Wimpleton  and  his 
son,  but  I  should  have  preferred  to  treat  them  with 
dignified  contempt,  rather  than  pick  a  quarrel  with 
them. 

The  Wimpletonians  had  a  whole  fleet  of  boats, 
including:  the  dozen  or  more  that  belonged  to  the 
Institute,  and  several  bateaux,  loaded  with  tents  and 
baggage.  The  wind  was  light  early  in  the  day,  and 
as  they  had  to  sail  a  dozen  miles  before  they  reached 
their  destination,  they  were  not  likely  to  arrive  at 
the  island  before  us.  Major  Toppleton  had  ordered 
the  tug  steamer  to  be  at  Grass  Springs  to  convey 
the  students  to  the  Horse  Shoe,  and  she  had  towed 
a  number  of  boats  for  the  use  of  the  battalion. 

"  We  must  hurry  up.  Wolf,"  said  Faxon,  who,  as 
usual,  was  on  the  engine  with  me,  after  glancing  at 
the  aquatic  procession  on  the  lake. 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  59 

"  It  will  take  the  "Wimps  three  hours  to  reach  the 
Horse  Shoe  with  this  breeze,"  I  replied.  "  Our  party 
will  arrive  in  an  hour." 

"  There  may  be  some  delay  at  the  Springs.  We 
don't  know  that  the  steamer  will  be  there  when  we 
arrive." 

"Didn't  Major  Toppleton  send  her  to  the  Springs?" 
I  asked,  not  being  aware  that  there  was  any  contin- 
gency. 

"  lie  sent  her  to  Ucayga  last  night  with  a  freight 
of  flour,  and  told  Captain  Underwood  to  be  at  Grass 
Springs  at  eight  o'clock,  if  j^ossible.  She  may  be 
late.  She  did  not  leave  Middleport  till  dark,  and  of 
coui'se  she  must  discharge  her  cargo  this  morning. 
If  there  should  be  no  steamer  ready  for  us,  what 
shall  we  do?" 

"  Where  are  our  boats  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  I  suppose  Captain  Underwood  left  them  at  the 
wharf  at  the  Springs,  as  he  passed,  or  possibly  at  the 
Horse  Shoe.  I  only  know  what  Tonmiy  told  me, 
just  before  we  started." 

"  There  is  a  chance  for  a  slip,  after  all,"  I  added. 

"  I  think  there  is  a  big  chance  fur  a  slip.      If  the 


60  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"Wimps  get  to  the  island  first,  there  will  be  a  big 
fight,  for  our  fellows  don't  wish  for  any  better  fun 
than  driving  them  ofi"." 

"And  2^erhaps  the  Wimps  would  like  no  better 
fun  than  that  of  driving  the  Tops  off." 

"  Possession  is  nine  points,  you  know,  and  the  side 
which  gets  a  footing  on  the  island  first  has  the  best 
chance,"  replied  Faxon,  cheerfully ;  and  though  he 
did  not  bluster  so  much  as  some  others,  I  knew  that 
he  was  "  ready  to  go  his  length  "  iu  opposition  to 
the  enemy. 

"  It  looks  like  a  fight,  any  way  you  can  fix  it,"  I 
added.  "  Why  couldn't  our  fellows  have  chosen  some 
other  place  to  encamp  ?  " 

"Because  the  Horse  Shoe  suits  them  best.  There 
is  a  good  wharf  at  the  island,  and  plenty  of  dry 
wood  for  the  fires." 

"  I  don't  see  the  use  of  quarrelling  when  there  are 
a  hundred  other  places  just  as  good  as  that." 

"  What's  the  matter.  Wolf  ?  Have  you  no  stomach 
for  a  fight?"  laughed  Faxon. 

"  No  ;    I  have  not." 

"  But  you  are  regarded  by  the  fellows  as  a  regular 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  61 

fighting-cock.  Your  affairs  with  Waddie  and  with  —  " 
Faxon  checked  himself,  as  he  glanced  at  Lewis  Hol- 
gate,  the  fireman  — "  you  kndw  whom,  are  the  foun- 
dation of  your  popularity  with  them." 

"  I  am  willing  to  fight  in  a  good  cause ;  but  I  don't 
believe  in  bringing  on  a  quarrel." 

"  The  Wimps  are  always  picking  upon  us,  and 
doing  us  mischief  whenever  they  can.  They  have 
torn  up  our  track  once,  and  we  haven't  paid  them 
off  for  that." 

"  You  sunk  all  their  boats  for  that ;  and  I  think 
you  are  about  even." 

"  Not  quite  ;  but  if  they  will  let  us  alone,  we  won't 
meddle  with  them.  We  have  hired  the  Horse  Shoe 
for  the  week,  and  we  mean  to  have  it.  We  have 
the  legal  right  to  the  island,  and  we  are  ready  to 
fight  for  possession." 

"  I  think  it  is  all  nonsense  to  quarrel  for  nothing." 

*'  We  shall  have  the  fun  of  licking  them." 

"  Or  the  fun  of  being  licked,"  I  suggested. 

"No  danger  of  that.  We  have  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  students  now,  and  I  was  told  that  the  Wimps 
liail  fallen  off  to  less  than  a  hundred,"  chuckled 
Faxon. 


62  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OR 

"  The  tables  may  be  turned  by  and  by,  when  the 

colonel's  plans  are  in  operation." 

"  What  plans  ?  "  asked  my  companion,  anxiously. 

"You  did  not  suppose  Colonel  Wimpleton  would 
permit  this  railroad  scheme  to  go  on  without  doing 
something  to  offset  it  —  did  you  ? "  I  replied  ;  and 
I  had  I'eceived  some  positive  information  from  my 
father,  the  night  before,  on  this  interesting  topic. 

"  What  can  he  do  ?  Pie  can't  build  a  railroad  on 
his  side  of  the  lake." 

"No;  but  at  this  moment  Waddie  Wimpleton  is 
the  president  of  a  corporation." 

"  What  corporation  ?  " 

"  A  steamboat  company." 

"  Is  that  so  ?  " 

"  My  father  was  over  at  Centreport  yesterday,  and 
found  out  all  about  it." 

"  But  what  iiave  the  Wimps  to  do  with  it  ?  " 

"  The  colonel  is  building  a  magnificent  little  steam- 
er at  Ilitaca.  Slie  is  to  be  very  long  and  narrow, 
and  good  for  fifteen  to  eighteen  miles  an  hour.  The 
Institute  fellows  on  the  other  side  are  to  own  and 
manage  her,  just  as  you  do  the  railroad." 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  63 

"  That  is  news,  certainly,"  said  Faxon,  musing,  and 
apparently  not  at  all  pleased  with  the  plan. 

"They  say  Major  Toppleton  has  bouglit  up  the 
steamers  Avhich  now  run  on  the  lake,  and  means  to 
take  them  off  between  Ucayga  and  Middleport  as 
soon   as  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  is  completed." 

"  Of  course ;  what's  the  use  of  having  the  boats 
after  the  road  is  finished  ?  We  are  to  run  a  Light- 
ning Express  twice  a  day  then,  and  I  think  it  is 
very  good-natured  of  the  major  to  buy  up  the  boats, 
and  thus  save  the   owners  from  loss." 

"Perhaps  it  is;  but  is  it  good-natured  for  him  to 
deprive  the  Centreporters  of  the  means  of  getting  to 
Ucayga,  as  he  will   when  the  boats  are  taken  off?" 

"  They  can  go  by  the  railroad,  the  same  as  others," 
laughed  Faxon. 

"They  can,  but  they  won't.  Do  you  think  Colonel 
AVirnplcton  would  come  over  here  and  ride  in  those 
cars?     lie   would  hang  liimself  first." 

"Then  he  can  hang  himself,  if  he  likes.  The  Mid- 
dleporters  wouldn't  cry  if  he  did." 

"  But  he  intends  neither  to  hang  himself  nor  to 
ride    on    the    Lake   Sliure    liaihoad.      Of  course  you 


64  LIGHTNING  EXPRESS,  OR 

can't  blame  him  for  kicking  against  the  movements 
of  the  major." 

"  See  here,  Wolf;  are  you  a  "Wimp  or  a  Top  ?  '* 
demanded  Faxon,  coloring  a  little,  as  we  looked  into 
each  other's  face. 

"  Why  do  you  ask  that  question  ? "  I  inquired, 
quietly. 

"Just  now  you  seemed  to  stick  up  for  the  Wim- 
plcton  side." 

"  I  was  only  stating  the  case  just  as  it  is.  My 
sympathies  are  on  this  side  ;  but  I  don't  blame 
Colonel  Wimpleton  for  not  being  willing  to  have 
his  facilities  for  going  to  and  from  Ucayga  cut  off." 

"  You  don't  blame  him  ! " 

«  Certainly  not." 

"  I  believe  you  are  only  half  a  Top  now.  Wolf. 
Just  now  you  were  condemning  us  for  standing  up 
for  our  own  rights.  Be  on  one  side  or  the  other, 
old  fellow." 

"  I  am  willing  to  fight  for  the  side  that  gives 
me  bread  and  butter,  as  long  as  it  stands  by  the 
right." 

"I  don't  like  this  making  reservations.     I  go  tho 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  65 

whole  figure.     My  country,  right  or  wrong  —  that's 
what  I  go  for." 

"  So  do  I.  My  country,  right  or  wrong  ;  if  wrong, 
to  set  her  right." 

"  There  you  spoil  all  the  poetry  of  the  thing.  If 
you  had  stopped  before  you  put  the  last  sentence 
on,  it  would  have  been  just  the  thing,  I  go  for 
Toppleton,  right  or  wrong." 

"I  don't,"  I  replied,  decidedly.  "I  am  for  keep- 
ing Toppleton  right,  and  then  I  go   for  Toppleton." 

"What's  the  use  of  talking,  Wolf!  You  can't 
make  me  believe  you  are  not  right  on  the  goose," 
added  Faxon,  good-naturedly.  "  When  will  that 
magnificent  steamer  be  launched?" 

"I  don't  know;  but  father  said  the  hull  was  nearly 
completed.  I  suppose  they  can't  get  her  ready  for 
service  before  August  or  September ;  perhaps  not  till 
next  spring." 

"  And  then  she  is  to  run  in  opposition  to  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad  ?  " 

« That's  the  idea,  I  believe.'* 

"  There  will  be  jolly  times  then ;  but  she  can't  do 
anything  against  our  lightning  express." 
6 


66  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  of  that." 

"  Come,  Wolf !  You  are  a  Wimp  at  heart,  after 
all.  The  fellows  would  mob  you  if  they  should  hear 
you  sticking  up  for  the  other  side,"  added  Faxon. 

"  I'm  not  sticking  up  for  the  other  side,"  1  replied, 
smartly,  for  I  did  not  relish  this  charge.  "  I'm  only 
looking  the  facts  fair  in  the  face.  The  Wimps' 
steamer  will  give  you  a  hard  run.  Look  at  it  for 
yourself." 

"  I  don't  believe  the  Wimps  can  get  ahead  of  us, 
any  how  —  I  won't  believe  it!"  persisted  Faxon. 

"  How  far  is  it  from  Middleport  to  Ucayga  ?  "  I 
asked. 

"Twenty  miles,  to  a  rod." 

"How  long  will  it  take  the  lightning  express  to 
go  through  ?  " 

"  Half  an  hour,"  replied  Faxon,  sharply. 

"  Not  much  !  We  should  have  a  smash  every  day 
at  that  rate.  The  track  is  not  stiff  enough  to  make 
that  time  upon.  Call  it  forty  minutes;  and  that  is 
high  speed  for  this  light  rail." 

"  Well,  forty  minutes.  You  don't  mean  to  say  any 
steamer  can  make  twenty  miles  in  that  time?" 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  67 

«  Hold  on  a  minute  !  How  wide  is  the  river  at 
XJcayga  ?  " 

«  Half  a  mile." 

"  Good ;  we  have  to  land  our  passengers  on  this 
side  of  the  river.  To  take  the  trains  east  and  west, 
they  must  cross  the  river,  and  do  tlie  same  when 
they  visit  the  town.  How  long  will  that  take  in 
the  old  sail-boat  ferry  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Faxon,  nettled  by  the 
force  of  the  argument,  which  he  could  not  answer. 

"  Half  an  hour,  at  least,  on  an  average.  That 
will  make  an  hour  and  ten  minutes ;  and  the  steam- 
er will  do  it  in  an  hour  and  a  quarter.  I  think  the 
colonel  has  a  pretty  good  show,"  I  continued,  as  the 
train  reached  Spangleport,  and  I  blew  some  des- 
perate whistles  to  warn  idlers  about  the  track. 

"You  are  a  Wimp!" 

"No.    I'm  a  Top." 

"  Don't  talk  so  before  the  other  fellows.  If 
you  do  they  will  think  you  have  sold  out  to  tha 
enemy." 

"  Can't  a  fellow  express  an  honest  opinion  ?  "  I 
asked,  warmly. 


68  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"  Not  when  it  don't  jibe  with  the  public  senti- 
ment." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  I'm  not  afraid  to  tell 
Mnjor  Toppleton  Avhat  I  think." 

"Don't  you  do  it." 

"If  he  wants  to  come  out  ahead,  as  of  course  he 
does,  it  would  be  better  for  him  to  look  the  facts 
and  contingencies  fairly  in  the  face." 

Faxon  was  thinking  of  the  matter,  and  by  mutual 
consent  both  of  us  were  silent. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  69 


CHAPTER  YI. 


A   MISSION    OF    PEACE. 


I  COULD  not  exactly  see  that  I  was  a  traitor  to 
the  Toppletonian  interest  because  I  believed  that 
a  steamer  could  successfully  corajjete  even  with  a 
"  lightning  express."  I  intended  to  serve  my  em- 
ployers faithfully,  and  believed  that  I  had  done  so. 
Perhaps  it  was  imprudent  for  me  to  express  an 
opinion  ;  but  I  knew  that  Colonel  Wimpleton  was  a 
man  of  energy  and  determination,  and  that  he  would 
not  be  content  to  remain  long  in  the  shade. 

I  observed  that  Lewis  Holgate  listened  very  at- 
tentively to  all  that  was  said,  though  he  made  no 
remarks.  Since  his  father  had  run  away  with  tlie 
money  he  bad  stolen,  the  family  were  hard  pressed 
to  get  a  living,  Lewis  was  about  my  own  age,  and 
was  regarded  as  a  smart  fellow.  The  intimacy  be- 
tween  our   families   had    brought   us   together   some- 


70  LIGHTNING   EXPBKSS,  OR 

what,  and  I  knew  that  he  aspired  to  be  a  "young 
engineer."  He  had  worl^ed  with  his  father  a  great 
deal,  and  knew  an  engine  very  well.  It  was  neces- 
sary for  him  to  go  to  work,  to  assist  in  supporting 
his  mother  and  his  brothers  and  sisters.  He  had 
told  me  how  sorry  he  was  for  what  his  father  had 
done,  and  I  pitied  him.  Through  my  influence  he 
had  obtained  the  place  to  "fire"  on  the  new  loco- 
motive, and  now  received  a  salary  of  three  dollars 
a  week. 

Lewis  worked  with  me  a  while  on  the  dummy,  and 
was  competent  to  run  it.  The  crime  of  his  father 
had  to  some  extent  broken  his  spirit,  and  thus  far 
he  had  behaved  very  well,  better  than  his  antece- 
dents led  me  to  expect  —  for  he  had  been  rather 
noted  in  Ucayga  as  a  bad  boy.  My  mother  com- 
mended me  warmly  for  what  I  had  done  to  help 
him,  and  declared  she  was  very  glad  to  see  me 
manifest  a  Christian  spirit  towards  him.  My  father 
said  I  was  foolish  to  try  to  serve  such  a  fellow  j 
but  I  was  best  satisfied  with  the  judgment  of  my 
mother. 

Something  had  already  been   said   about    another 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  71 

locomotive,  and  an  additional  number  of  freight  and 
passenger  cars,  which  the  business  of  the  road  would 
eventually  demand.  Lewis  Ilolgate  gave  me  to  un- 
derstand that  the  heisjlit  of  his  ambition  was  to  be 
the  engineer  of  the  new  locomotive  when  it  came. 
I  assured  him  that  if  he  did  his  duty  faithfully,  I 
would  do  all  I  could  to  further  his  purpose.  We 
were,  therefore,  good  friends,  and  I  gave  him  every 
facility  for  learning  the  business.  If  I  had  had  any 
doubts  about  the  propriety  of  what  I  had  said  to 
Faxon,  for  which  he  had  accused  me  of  being  a 
Wimp,  I  should  not  have  restrained  my  speech  on 
account  of  the  presence  of  Lewis ;  for,  after  all  I  had 
done  for  him,  I  did  not  think  him  capable  of  injur- 
ing me. 

"The  tug  steamer  is  not  here,"  said  Faxon,  as  I 
shut  off  the  steam  when  the  train  approached  Grass 
Springs. 

"It  isn't  eight  o'clock  yet.  We  have  been  only 
lialf  an  hour  on   the  road,"  I  replied. 

"I  don't  believe  it  will  be  here,"  added  Faxon, 
anxiously,  as  he  looked  out  upon  the  waters  of  the 
lake.  "  There  is  a  stiff  breeze  now,  and  the  Wimp* 
will  bo  here  by  nine  o'clock." 


72  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

I  could  not  see  why  my  partisan  friend  should 
manifest  any  anxiety,  since  he  and  the  rest  of  the 
Toj)pletonians,  with  a  few  exceptions,  were  absolute- 
ly spoiling  for  a  fight  wdth  their  rivals  on  the  other 
side  of  the  lake.  The  train  approached  the  Grass 
Springs  station,  and  I  whistled  to  put  on  the  brakes. 
As  soon  as  we  stopped,  Faxon  left  the  engine,  and 
the  battalion  came  out  of  the  cars.  The  two  com- 
panies formed  on  the  wharf,  and  I  heard  sharp  and 
imperative  orders  of  Major  Tommy,  which  led  me 
to  conclude  that  his  experience  in  the  stockholders' 
meeting  had  not  been  very  profitable  to  him,  though 
some  of  the  harshness  of  his  tones  was  doubtless 
attributable  to  his  military  enthusiasm. 

From  my  place  in  the  cab  I  could  see  the  end 
of  the  lake,  with  the  steeples  of  Ucayga  in  the  dis- 
tance ;  but  the  steamer  was  not  on  the  way ;  she 
had  not  even  started  for  the  Springs.  The  Horse 
Shoe  was  two  miles  from  the  shore.  The  wind 
had  freshened  a  little,  and  was  fair  for  boats  com- 
ing down  the  lake.  The  battalion  from  Centreport 
must  arrive  in  an  hour,  or  an  hour  and  a  half  at 
the  farthest,   for  the    boats  had   had  only  ten   miles 


THB    RTYAT.    ACADEMIES.  73 

to  make  half  an  hour  before.  Major  Tommy  had 
formed  his  lines;  the  quartermaster  had  placed  all 
the  baggage  and  stores  on  the  wharf,  and  everything 
■was  in  readiness  to  embark.  It  was  eight  o'clock  by 
this  time,  and  the  steamer  had  not  yet  appeared. 
The  Toppleton  boats  had  probably  been  left  at  the 
island,  for  they  were  not  to  be  found  at  the  main 
shore,  and  the  steamer  could  have  left  them  with 
less  delay  than  at  the  Grass  Springs  "Wharf. 

"  What's  to  be  done  ?  "  asked  Major  Tommy,  im- 
patiently, after  he  had  surveyed  the  ground  over 
and  over  again. 

"  "We  must  get  to  the  island  some  how  or  other," 
replied  Faxon. 

"  That  steamer  won't  be  here  for  an  hour,"  growled 
the  commander  of  the  battalion.  "  Father  said  it 
might  be  late  ;  but  he  didn't  understand  exactly 
what  was  up." 

"The  Wimps  are  coming,"  shouted  an  officer  in 
the  line. 

"They  are  five  miles  off,"  replied  Faxon,  as  he 
looked  up  the  lake.  "I  want  to  he  on  the  island 
when  they  come." 


74  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"  So  do  I,"  replied  Tommy,  casting  an  anxious 
glance  at  the  approaching  enemy. 

"  Can't  you  help  us  out,  Wolf? "  asked  the  major, 
jumping  on  the  foot-board  of  the  engine. 

Of  course  I  was  well  j^leased  to  be  called  upon 
in  the  emergency,  for  it  was  manifesting  a  great 
deal  of  confidence  to  ask  advice  of  a  boy  who  was 
not  a  member  of  the  battalion.  The  Toppletonians 
had  the  legal  right  to  use  the  Hoi-se  Shoe;  and  it 
seemed  to  rae  that,  if  they  had  possession  of  the 
island  when  the  "Wimpletonians  arrived,  the  antici- 
pated fight,  at  least  as  a  brutal  struggle,  might  be 
averted.  Both  bodies  were  armed  with  small  mus- 
kets, having  bayonets  upon  them ;  and  though  they 
were  not  allowed  any  amunition,  they  might  make 
the  combat  more  dangerous  than  they  intended. 
The  interests  of  peace,  therefore,  appeared  to  require 
that  our  battalion  should  be  transported  to  the 
island  without  delay. 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  going  to  get  up  a  fight  over 
there,"  I  ventured  to  say. 

"Of  course  we  are  not,  if  the  "Wimps  let  us 
alone,"  replied  Tommy.     "  If  they  don't  let  us  alone, 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEIOES.  75 

it  will  be  the  "worse  for  them.  I  want  to  get  over 
there  before  they  do,  and  that  steamer,  confound  it, 
won't  be  here   this  hour." 

"If  I  were  you,  Tommy,  I  would  send  one  com- 
pany over  to  the  island,  and  take  possession  of  it, 
leavinsf  the  bajrorao-e  and  tents  to  be  carried  over 
when  the    steamer  comes." 

"How  can  I  send  one  company  over?"  snapped 
Tommy.     "  "We    haven't    a    boat,    or    even    a    mud- 

SCOW:" 

"There  comes  the  ferry-boat,"  I  replied,  pointing 
to  a  sloop-rigged  craft  which  was  now  approaching 
the  shore  from  Ruoara,  on  tlie  other  side  and  above 
the  island. 

"  That's  the  idea ! "  exclaimed  Tommy,  as  he  leaped 
down  from  the  cab,  and  ran  with  a  speed  entirely 
beneath  the  dignity  of  the  major  of  a  battalion  to 
the  ferry  pier. 

In  three  minutes  more  he  had  made  a  trade  with 
the  ferryman  to  land  as  many  of  the  force  as  his 
boat  would  accommodate  on  the -Horse  Shoe.  The 
craft  was  one  peculiar  to  the  lakes  in  that  region. 
It  was  an   ordinary  sloop,  though  rather  longer  than 


76  LIGHTNmG   EXPRESS,   OE 

similar  vessels  are  built ;  but  the  stern  was  open  just 
above  the  water-line,  so  that  teams  could  be  driven 
on  board.  It  dejjcnded  upon  the  wind  as  its  pro- 
pelling agent,  though  it  was  provided  with  a  pair 
of  steamboat  wheels,  with  a  horse-power  machine  to 
turn  them,  which  could  be  used  when  the  wind  was 
not  available. 

Major  Tommy  ordered  Captain  Briscoe,  with  Com- 
pany A,  to  embark  in  this  ferry-boat,  and  to  hold 
the  Horse  Shoe,  at  any  peril,  until  the  other  com- 
pany could  be  sent  over.  I  was  sorry  to  leave  the 
exciting  scene ;  but  I  had  to  run  the  trip  from 
Middleport  at  nine  o'clock.  Satisfied  that  the  Top- 
pletonians  would  secure  possession  of  the  island 
before  the  arrival  of  the  enemy,  I  turned  the  loco- 
motive, and  ran  back  to  the  other  terminus.  The 
fleet  of  boats  was  off  the  South  Shoe,  not  more  than 
a  mile  from  the  Horse  Shoe,  when  the  train  went 
through  Spangleport;  but  the  ferry-boat  was  within 
half  that  distance  of  its  destination. 

We  did  not  yet  run  the  new  locomotive  and  cars 
on  the  regular  trips,  because  the  travel  was  light, 
and  the  dummy  could  be  used  at  half  the  expense. 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  77 

We  housed  the  eugine  and  cars,  and,  firing  up  the 
dummy,  we  had  steam  enough  to  start  her  at  the 
appointed  hour.  Just  before  we  left,  Major  Topple- 
ton  came  into  the  station,  and  asked  me  what  had 
become  of  the  students.  I  told  him  I  had  conveyed 
them  to  Grass  Springs. 

"I  did  not  know  they  were  going  so  early,"  add- 
«d  he. 

"They  were  in  a  hurry,"  I  replied,  with  a  smile, 
jv'hen  I  saw  that  the  great  man  did  not  comprehend 
the  strategy  of  the  battalion.  "My  orders  from 
Major  Tommy  were  to  start  at  seven  o'clock;  and  I 
get  them  down  on  the  wharf  at  the  Springs  at  half 
past  seven." 

"  You  look  wiser  than  you  speak,  "Wolf,"  said  the 
major,  gazing  earnestly  into  my  face.  "Is  there  any 
mischief  brewing  ?  " 

"I  think  there  is,"  I  replied,  candidly,  though  I 
could  not  help  smiling  at  the  puzzled  look  of  the 
magnate  of  Middleport. 

"What  is  it?  W^liy  didn't  you  tell  me  about  it? 
They  say  the  students  of  the  Wimplcton  Instituto 
went  down  the  lake  this  morning." 


78  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OR 

"Yes,  sir;  we  passed  them  on  the  way,  and  the 
students  of  both  Institutes  are  bound  to  the  same 
place." 

"  Then  there  will  be  a  quarrel ! "  exclaimed  the 
major;  but  I  think  he  would  not  have  cared  if  he 
had  been  sure  that  his  side  of  the  lake  would  be 
victorious. 

"I  am  afraid  there  will;  but  the  Toppletonians 
have  the  weather-gage,  both  on  the  rights  of  the 
case  and  in  the   situation." 

I  exjilained  fully  what  had  transpired  at  the 
meeting  of  the  battalion  on  Saturday,  and  the  state 
of  the  afiair  when  I  left  Grass  Springs,  an  hour 
before. 

"  Why  didn't  they  tell  me  what  they  were  do- 
ing?" demanded  the  major.  "I  did  not  know  they 
were  in  a  hurry ;  if  I  had,  the  steamer  should  hjive 
been  at  Grass  Springs  without  fail.  If  our  boys 
have  hired  the  Horse  Shoe,  and  pay  for  it,  they 
have  a  right  to  use  it." 

The  great  man  was  unequivocally  on  the  side  of 
the  boys,  and  they  might  just  as  well  have  taken 
Lim  into  their   confidence.     I  was   sorry  to  see  him 


THE   RITAL   ACADEMIES.  79 

BO  willing  to  permit  a  collision,  even  wliile  our  stu- 
dents had  the  letter  of  the  law  in  their  favor. 

"Wolf,  don't  you  want  a  vacation?"  said  the 
major,  suddenly  tuniing  to  me,  after  musing  on  the 
facts  I  had  given  him. 

"No,  sir;  I  don't  care  about   any,"  I  replied. 

"But  I  prefer  that  you  should  take  one.  Your 
pay  shall  go  on  as  usual,"  he  continued ;  and  of 
course  it  was  of  no  use  for  me  to  protest.  "  Can 
Lewis  run  the  dummy?" 

"Yes,  sir;   he  understands  it  very  well." 

"All  right.  Wolf;  I  want  you  to  be  with  those 
boys.  You  have  an  influence  with  them,  and  they 
want  some  help   such  as  you  can  give  them." 

"Am  I  to  fight  with  them,  sir?"  I  asked,  laugh- 
ing; for  I  did  not  exactly  relish  the  kind  of  vaca- 
tion he  intended  to   give  me. 

"  Certainly  I  don't  want  any  fighting  if  it  can  be 
avoided.  I  want  you  to  help  keep  the  peace.  If 
things  don't  work  well,  or  any  help  is  needed,  come 
to  me  at  once." 

I  started    the   dummy,   and  then    gave   it   up   to 


80  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OK 

Lewis.  I  did  not  exactly  like  my  mission;  for, 
though  I  was  sent  to  keep  the  peace,  I  knew  that 
the  major  simply  expected  me  to  see  that  the  Top- 
pletonians  were  not  whipped  in  the  expected  en- 
counter. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  81 


CHAPTER  VII. 

MAJOR    TOMMY   GETS   MAD. 

THOUGH  I  Tras  nominally  sent  to  the  Horse 
Shoe  as  an  ambassador  of  peace,  I  fully  un- 
derstood the  real  object  of  the  magnate  in  giving 
me  a  vacation.  The  mission  was  certainly  compli- 
mentary to  me,  for  I  was  really  expected  to  do 
the  "engineering"  for  the  Toppletonians.  I  was 
not  to  permit  them  to  be  whijiped  by  their  great 
enemy :  if  I  could  not  prevent  it  myself,  I  was  to 
call  in  the  assistance  of  Major  Toppleton.  What- 
ever instructions  he  may  have  given  me,  this  was 
precisely  what  he  meant.  I  was,  in  some  sense,  to 
be  his  representative. 

I   desired    to    keep    the    peace,   and   I    hoped    to 

have    influence   enough    to   accomplish   something   in 

this  direction ;    but  it  Avould  not  be  an  easy  matter 

to  do  this,  and  at  the  same  time  escape  the  wrath 

6 


82  LIGHTNING   EXPKESS,   OE 

of  the  belligerent  Toppletonians.  The  Wimpleton 
battalion,  under  command  of  Major  Waddie,  would 
be  ten  times  as  reckless  as  the  Toppletonians  under 
Major  Tommy.  My  late  enemy  on  the  other  side 
was  not  restrained  either  by  fear  or  by  j^rinciple. 
No  violence  or  destruction  appalled  liim.  His 
father  bad  so  often  paid  for  damage  done  by  him, 
that  he  never  hesitated  to  gratify  his  malice  and 
revenge  by  smashing  a  boat,  firing  a  building,  or 
even  discharging  his  j^istol  at  any  one  who  thwarted 
rtm.  He  was  a  dangerous  enemy.  But  Waddie 
was  reckless  only  when  he  was  personally  in  a  safe 
I^osition.  He  was  prudent  enough  to  keep  his  own 
body  out  of  the  way  of  harm,  except  when  his 
wrath  completely  mastered  him, 

Lewis  Holgate  was  glad  enough  of  an  opportu- 
nity to  run  the  dummy  alone,  for  it  would  enable 
him  to  i^rove  his  fitness  for  the  position  to  whicli 
he  aspired,  I  cautioned  him  carefully  in  regard 
to  keeping  up  the  water  in  the  boiler,  and  tlie 
pressure  of  steam  he  might  carry.  He  was  very 
passive  and  tractable,  and,  for  the  sake  of  his  own 
reputation,  I  had  no  doubt  he  would  be  faithful  and 
careful  iu  the  discharge ^of  his  duty. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  85 

"When  I  arrived  at  Grass  Springs  in  the  dummy, 
the  steamer  was  just  approaching  the  wharf.  The 
company  sent  over  to  the  island  under  Captain  Bris- 
coe had  landed,  and  thus  far  had  held  peaceful  pos- 
session. The  Horse  Shoe  was  the  most  western  of 
four  islands,  just  below  Ruoara.  The  tvro  largest 
of  them  lay  easfr  and  west  of  each  other,  while  the 
one  to  the  north  of  thcra  was  called  the  North 
Shoe,  and  the  one  to  the  south  the  South  Shoe, 
They  bore  some  resemblance  to  shoes ;  and  the 
western  island  having  a  bay  which  made  into  its 
southern  side,  gave  it  the  shape  of  a  horse  shoe. 
Tlio  eastern  island,  and  the  nearest  to  the  shore, 
looked  more  like  a  pistol  than  either  of  the  others 
did  like  the  articles  for  which  they  were  named. 
But  the  person  who  had  christened  the  group,  hav- 
ing probably  named  the  others  first,  calling  each  a 
shoe,  designated  the  fourth  the  "  Shooter,"  instead 
of  tlie  Pistol,  which  would  have  been  more  appro- 
priate. "  Shoe  "  and  "  Shooter  "  seemed  to  jingle 
well  with  him,  and,  as  he  was  satisfied,  I  shall  not 
complain. 

The   squadron    of  boats   from   Centreport   lay   be- 


84  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OR 

tween  the  Horse  Shoe  and  the  South  Shoe  when 
I  came  upon  the  ground.  So  far  as  I  could  judge 
by  seeing  thera  at  the  distance  of  two  miles,  the 
Wimpletonians  were  consulting  upon  their  next 
movement.  If  they  intended  to  take  possession 
of  the  island,  they  had  permitted  the  favorable 
opportunity  to  pass.  Doubtless  '  they  were  also 
waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  bateaux,  on  which 
their  baggage  was  transported. 

"  Has  anything  happened  ? "  I  asked  of  Faxon, 
as  I  joined  the  students  on  the  wharf. 

"Not  a  thing!"  exclaimed  he.  "The  Wimps 
smell  a  mice,  and  don't  seem  to  be  inclined  to 
pitch  in.  If  I  had  been  Waddie  Wimpleton,  I 
would  have  landed  on  that  island  before  this  time." 

Faxon  appeared  to  be  disappointed  because  the 
row  had  not  come  off,  and  more,  perhajjs,  because 
the  Wimpletonians  did  not  display  a  belligerent  spirit. 
The  steamer  came  up  to  the  wharf,  and  the  stu- 
dents embarked.  Major  Tommy  stormed  at  Cap- 
tain Underwood  for  his  delay,  and  the  poor  captain 
defended  himself  very  modestly  and  gently.  He 
had    discharged    his    cargo    as    speedily    as    possible, 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  ^O 

and  be  bad  not  been  told  to  be  at  tbe  Springs  at 
eight,  but  as  soon  as  be  could.  His  bread  and 
butter  depended  upon  keeping  the  right  side  of 
the  magnate,  and  to  prejudice  the  son  was  to  in- 
fluence the  father. 

"TVhat  are  you  doing  here,  Wolf?"  asked  Tom, 
my,  as  he  saw  me  standing  on  the  forward  deck, 
after  the  steamer  stai-ted. 

"Your  father  has  just  given  me  a  vacation,"  1 
replied,  very  quietly ;  for  I  did  not  deem  it  pru- 
dent to  put  on  any  airs  about  my  mission.  "I 
thought  I  would  come  over  and  see  how  this  thing 
was  coming  out." 

"It's  coming  out  all  right,  "Wolf.  What  did  ray 
father  say?"  asked  the  little  major,  with  some  show 
of  anxiety.  "  Was  he  mad  because  we  came  away 
60  early  ?  " 

"  O,  no !  I  told  him  where  you  were  going,  and 
that  the  Wimps  were  bound  to  the  same  place. 
lie  was  very  glad  you  had  obtained  permission 
of  the  owner  to  use  the  island." 

"  Then  it  is  all  right  —  is  it,-  Wolf? "  added 
Tommy,    with    an    apparent    feeling    of   relief.       "I 


86  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

didn't  know  but  my  governor  sent  you  here  as  a 
spy.  If  he  did,  you  can  return  as  fast  as  you 
carae." 

Perhaps,  according  to  Tommy's  interpretation  of 
my  mission,  I  might  be  a  spy.  I  had  really  been 
sent  to  act  as  a  check  ujjon  the  students,  who  were 
very  jealous  of  any  interference  when  they  were  on 
camp  duty,  or  any  other  military  service.  The 
steamer  sped  on  its  way,  and  as  the  deep  water 
was  between  the  Horse  Shoe  and  the  Shooter,  we 
had  to  round  the  southern  point  of  the  former  in 
order  to  reach  the  landing-place.  The  Wimi^leton 
boats  still  lay  off  the  South  Shoe,  and  Captain 
Underwood  said  they  were  in  the  channel  through 
which  he  must  pass. 

"Can't  you  get  to  the  landing  without  going 
near  them?"  I  asked  privately  of  the  captain, 
though  I  knew  the  navigation  of  the  lake  as  well 
as  he  did. 

"  I  can  go  to  the  north  of  the  Horse  Shoe,  and 
come  down  the  channel  in  that  way,"  he  replied. 

"  These  fellows  are  spoiling  for  a  fight,  and  I  am 
afraid  there  will  be  some   broken   heads  before  the 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  87 

day  is  fiuislied.    If  you  can  prevent  a  row,  it  will 
be  better  to  do  it." 

"Very  well,"  said  he,  ringing  the  bell  to  stop 
her,  just  as  he  was  entering  the  channel  between 
the  Horse  Slioe  and  the  South  Shoe. 

"What's  that  for?"  demanded  Major  Tommy 
from   the    forward   deck. 

"Don't  you  think  we  had  better  go  in  at  the 
northward  of  the  island?"  inquired  Captain  Un- 
derwood, with  the  utmost  deference. 

"No,  sir!  I  don't  think  so!"  replied  Tommy, 
warmly.  "Are  you  going  the  other  way  because 
those  boats  are  here?  Go  ahead,  sir!  Run  them 
down,  if  they  don't  get  out  of  the  way ! " 

Captain  Underwood  felt  obliged  to  obey  this  im- 
perative order.  If  he  had  refused  to  do  so,  it  is 
quite  likely  he  would  have  been  compelled  to  re- 
turn to  the  skippership  of  a  canal  boat,  from  which 
he  had  been  promoted  to  his  present  more  digni- 
fied and  lucrative  position. 

"Don't  run  them  down,  captain,"  I  ventured  to 
Bay,  in  a  low  tone,  as  tho  master  rang  the  bell 
to  go  ahead  again. 


88  LIGHTKING   EXPRESS,   OB 


"  It  is  hard  work  to  please  that  boy  without  get- 
ting into  trouble,"  added  the  captain.  "The  good 
book  says  no  man  can  serve  two  masters,  but  I 
have  to  serve  two." 

"  Blow  the  whistle,  captain !  "  I  suggested. 

He  blew  the  whistle  till  the  shores  resounded 
with  the  echoing  screeches;  but  the  Wimpletonians 
evidently  believed  the  steamer  had  come  this  way 
on  purpose  to  annoy  them,  and  they  stood  upon 
their  dignity.  Not  a  boat  moved,  and  the  stu- 
dents in  them  looked  as  resolute  as  though  they 
meant  to  be  smashed  rather  than  change  their  posi- 
tion. "We  were  almost  upon  them,  and  I  was  afraid 
the  captain  intended  to  execute  the  barbarous  threat 
of  Major  Tommy.  I  begged  him  again  not  to  run 
into  the  boats ;  and  seeing  the  ..enemy  did  not  mean 
to  move,  he  stopped  and  backed  in  season  to  avoid 
a  calamity. 

"  What  did  you  stop  for,  captain  ? "  shouted  Tom- 
my; but  I  was  charitable  enough  to  believe  that 
the  words  were  intended  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Wimpletonians,  rather  than  the  person  to  whom 
Ihey  were  addressed. 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  89 

Captain  Underwood  made  no  reply,  but  rang  to 
go  ahead  again,  though  he  permitted  but  two  or 
three  turns  of  the  wheels. 

"I  can  shove  the  boats  out  of  the  way  without 
hurting  any  one,  I  think,"  said  he,  as  the  steamer 
moved  slowly  forward. 

"  Look  out,  or  you  will  run  into  us ! "  shouted 
my  old  enemy,  Ben  Pinkerton,  who  w;^as  in  the 
nearest  boat. 

"  Out  of  the  way,  then ! "  replied  Captain  Un- 
derwood. 

"Go  ahead,  full  steam,  captain!"  called  Tommy; 
but  ao^ain  I  wished  to  believe  that  his  order  was 
a  threat  to  the  enemy  rather  than  an  indication  of 
a  wicked  purpose. 

Instead  of  obeying  this  rash  command,  the  cap- 
tain rang  the  bell  to  back  her,  fearful  that  some 
of  the  boats  might  be  smashed. 

I  saw  Tommy  rush  aft,  and  I  supposed  he  In- 
tended to  come  upon  the  hurricane  deck,  whore 
he  could  bully  Captain  Underwood  more  effectually. 
I  left  the  wheel-house,  where  I  had  been  during 
the    conversation    with   the   captain,   that    he    might 


90  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    Olt 

not  implicate  mc  in  the  disobedience.  But  Tommy- 
did  not  appear,  and  it  was  plain  that  he  had  adopt- 
ed some  other  tactics. 

"  Wolf  Penniman ! "  shouted  some  one  at  the 
gangway.     "  You  are  wanted  below  !  " 

"  What  is  wanted  ? "  I  asked  of  the  messenger, 
who  could  hardly  speak,  he  was  so  excited. 

"  Major  Toppleton  wants  you." 

I  went  below,  and  found  Major  Tommy  standing 
at  the  door  of  the  engine-room,  foaming  with  wrath ; 
indeed,  he  had  steam  enough  on  to  carry  a  forty- 
horse  engine. 

"  Will  you  do  as  I  tell  you,  or  not  ? "  stormed 
Tommy,  addressing  his  energetic  words  to  the  en- 
gineer. 

"  You  must  excuse  me,  Mr.  Tommy ;  but  I  must 
mind  the  bells.  It  won't  do  for  me  to  disobey  the 
captain's  orders,"  protested  the  engineer,  gently  and 
respectfully. 

"Plere,  Wolf!"    shouted  Tommy.     "Come  here!" 

I  presented  myself  to  the  little  magnate,  and  I 
was  conscious  that  I  was  already  in  a  bad  scrape. 

"Go  in  there,  and  start  up  that  engine!  Go  ahead, 
full  steam ! "  continued  he. 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  91 

I  looked  at  him,  but  I  did  not  move  to  obey. 
I  smiled,  and  looked  as  good-natured  as  possi- 
ble, for  I  did  not  wish  him  to  think  that  I  was 
ugly  about  it. 

"Don't  you  hear  me,  "Wolf?  I  tell  you  to  start 
up  that  engine  !  "    repeated  Major  Tommy. 

"It  won't  do  for  me  to  step  in  between  the  man 
and  his  engine,"  I  remonstrated,  mildly. 

"Yes,  it  Avill!  I  tell  you  to  do  it;  and  if  you 
don't  do  it,  you  shall  suffer  for  it." 

"Let  us  argue  the  point  a  little,  major,"  I  re- 
plied. 

"Will  you  do  what  I  tell  you,  or  not?"  roared 
he,  swelling  up  as  big  as  a  major  general. 

"You  must  excuse  me,  major,  but  I  can't  take 
the  enccine  out  of  the  engineer's  hands,  without  the 
captain's  orders." 

"I  will  let  you  know  that  this  boat  is  my 
father's,  and  I  can  do  with  ii  as  I  please.  If 
you  won't  start  it,  I  Avill  do  so  mj^self!"  said 
the  juvenile  magnate,  desperately,  as  he  rushed 
into  llie  engine-room,  and  seized  hold  of  the 
workin^-bar. 


92  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

"Tou  musn't  toucli  the  engine,"  said  the  man 
in  charge,  as  he  took  hold  of  Tommy's  arm,  and, 
with  as  little  force  as  was  necessary,  thrust  him 
out  of  the  room. 

Tommy  was  the  maddest  major  I  ever  saw. 


THE    raVAL    ACADEMIES.  93 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

CHARGE  BAYONETS ! 

MAJOR  TOMMY,  in  my  judgment,  was  more 
inclined  to  have  his  own  way  than  he  was 
to  annihilate  the  Wimpletonians  by  crushing  them 
under  the  wheels  of  the  steamer.  He' had  been  irri- 
tated because  the  captain  did  not  obey  his  order; 
but,  I  think,  if  the  boat  had  gone  ahead  at  his  im- 
perial command,  he  would  have  been  the  first  to 
stop  her.  I  could  not  believe  that  he  was  so  dia- 
bolically wicked  as  to  run  over  the  boats,  and  sacri- 
fice the  lives  of  a  dozen  or  more  even  of  his  enemies. 
If  it  had  been  Waddie,  the  matter  would  have  been 
different,  and  I  should  have  been  more  credulous. 

When  the  captain  opposed  him,  he  flew  to  the 
engineer;  but  I  am  confident  that,  if  the  man  liad 
given  the  wheel  a  single  turn.  Tommy  would  have 
ordered    him  to  stop  her.      Neither  the  captain    nor 


J)4  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

the  engineer  knew  that  he  did  not  intend  to  do  all 
he  threatened ;  and  I  am  afraid,  if  the  wheels  had 
been  started,  the  mischief  would  have  been  done, 
whatever  the  little  magnate  meant,  or  did  not  mean. 
I  was  very  soiry  to  be  dragged  into  the  difficulty, 
for  Tommy  and  I  had  thus  far  been  very  good 
friends.  However,  I  had  no  doubts  in  regard  to  the 
correctness  of  my  position. 

Forbush,  the  engineer,  had  gently,  very  gently, 
thrust  Tommy  out  of  the  engine-room.  By  this 
time,  all  of  Company  B  had  gathered  around  the 
little  major,  intent  upon  beholding  the  row.  The 
juvenile  magnate  was  boiling  over  with  rage,  and 
threatened  Captain  Underwood,  the  engineer,  and 
myself  with  total  annihilation.  Every  one  of  us 
should  lose  his  situation,  and  be  forever  deprived  of 
the  power  to  obtain  further  employment. 

"Come,  Tommy,  keep  cool,"  said  Faxon,  trying 
to  smooth  down  the  wrinkled  fur  on  the  badger's 
back. 

"I  won't  keep  cool!  I  have  been  insulted,  and  I 
will  teach  the  fellows  who  and  what  I  am.  If  I 
tell  the  captain  of  this  boat  to  run  over  the  island, 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  95 

he  shall  do  it,"  stormed  Tommy,  so  angry  that  he 
could  hardly  keep  from  crying, 

"  Be  reasonable,  Tommy,"  added  Skotchley,  with 
his  usual  quiet  dignity.  "  We  don't  want  to  kill 
anybody." 

"  Yes,  we  do  !  We  want  to  kill  the  "Wimj^s  if 
they  don't  get  out  of  the  way." 

It  was  useless  to  say  anything  to  the  irate  major 
while  he  was  so  inflamed  with  wrath,  and  by  gen- 
eral consent  the  students  kept  still ;  but  they  wei-e 
disccusted  with  the  commander  of  the  battalion,  and 
doubtless  most  of  them  were  sorry  that  they  had  not 
tipped  him  out  of  both  of  his  offices.  While  Tommy 
was  still  raving  like  an  insane  person,  the  bell  rang 
again  to  go  ahead,  and  the  engineer  promptly  started 
the  wheels ;  but  only  a  few  turns  were  made  before 
the  signal  came  to  stop  her.  Finding  I  was  not 
needed  on  the  main  dock,  and  tliat  the  wrathful 
major  would  cool  off  sooner  if  left  to  himself,  I  went 
up  to  the  wheel-house.  All  on  board,  except  the 
captain  and  one  man  at  tlie  wlieel,  had  been  at- 
tracted to  the  vicinity  of  the  engine-room  by  the 
exciting  scene.      There   was   no   one   on  the  „jrward 


96  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,  OR 

deck,  for  even  the  two  men  employed  there  were 
listening  to  the  howls  of  Tommy. 

Captain  Underwood  had  started  the  boat  ahead 
again,  and  when  I  reached  the  wheel-house,  she  was 
gently  crowding  her  way  through  the  fleet  of  boats, 
a  dozen  in  number,  containing  the  whole  force  of 
the  Wimpletonians,  over  ninety  of  them.  She  struck 
the  boats  as  gingerly  as  though  they  had  been  eggs. 
She  did  them  no  harm,  beyond  scraping  the  fresh 
paint  upon  them,  as  she  slowly  forced  her  way 
through  them.  I  watched  the  movement  with  in- 
terest, for  I  was  curious  to  know  what  the  Wimple- 
tonians intended  to  do. 

The  fleet  lay  in  the  deep  water,  so  that  there 
was  no  room  on  either  side  for  the  steamer  to  pass 
to  her  destination  without  getting  aground.  Captain 
Underwood  was  a  prudent  man,  and  worked  his 
craft  very  carefully.  He  had  given  her  headway 
enough  to  carry  her  through  the  squadron  of  boats; 
but,  as  they  swarmed  along  her  bow,  and  under  her 
guards,  the  students  in  them  fastened  to  her  with 
their  boat-hooks,  so  that  they  could  not  be  shaken  ofil 

"  Back  her   quick,   and  you  will   shake  them   ofi" 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  07 

without  harming  any  of  them,"  I  suggested  to  the 
captain,  when  I  saw  that  he  was  nettled  by  the 
failure  of  his  plan. 

"  Out  of  the  way  there  !  Your  boats  will  be 
smashed  under  our  wheels ! "  shouted  he  to  the 
enemy. 

At  that  moment  half  a  dozen  of  the  "Wimpleto- 
nians  leaped  over  the  rail  of  the  steamer  upon  the 
forward  deck,  with  their  muskets  in  their  hands. 

"  What's  that  for  ?  "   said  the  captain,  quietly. 

"They  mean  mischief,"  I  replied,  as  I  saw  a  aozen 
more  follow  the  six  ;  and  among  the  latter  was 
Waddie  Wimpleton,  glittering  with  gold  lace,  for 
he  was  in  the  full  uniform  of  a   major  of  infantry. 

"  Stand  by  those  two  doors  !  "  shouted  he,  draw- 
ing his  sword  and  pointing  to  tlie  entrances  near 
which  the  Topplctonians  were  still  listening  to  the 
bowlings  of  Major  Tommy.  "  Hurry  up,  there  ! "  he 
added  to  those  in  the  boats. 

The  Wimpletonians  poured  in  over  the  rail,  until 
the  deck  was  crowded.  Company  B  had  stacked 
their  muskets  on  this  deck,  and  except  the  officers, 
our  boys   were  unarmed,  while   every  Wimplctonian 


98  LlGHT^riNG   EXPRESS,   OE 

presented  a  musket  with  a  fixed  bayonet  upon  it. 
As  the  enemy  were  boarding  the  steamer,  the  cap- 
tain, amazed  at  the  audacity  of  the  young  rufiians, 
rang  the  bell  to  back  the  boat;  but  before  she  had 
headway  enough  to  shake  off  the  fleet,  which  clung 
to  her  like  swarming  bees,  all  the  Wimpletonians, 
except  one  in  each  boat,  were  on  our  deck. 

"  Up  there,  twenty  of  you  !  "  said  Major  Waddie, 
indicating  the  hurricane  deck  with  a  flourish  of  his 
sword. 

"  What  are  the  rascals  going  to  do  ? "  added 
Cajjtain  Underwood,  who  had  not  given  the  enemy 
credit  for  the  skill  and  daring  they  now  displayed. 

"  Don't  let  a  single  Top  go  on  the  hurricane 
deck  !  "  shouted  Waddie ;  and  the  twenty  students 
he  had  sent  up  stationed  themselves  at  the  head  of 
the  stairs,  to  prevent  any  of  our  party  from  leav- 
ing their  prison ;  for  such  it  had  now  become  to 
them. 

Captain  Underwood  began  to  think  the  frolic,  as 
(le  had  at  first  regai'ded  it,  was  becoming  a  serious 
afi*air,  and  I  saw  that  he  looked  somewhat  anxious. 
Our  fellows   had   left  their   muskets  on   the   forward 


THE    EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  99 

deck,  and  they  were  now  in  possession  of  the  enemy. 
I  am  inclined  to  think  it  was  fortunate  they  were 
there,  rather  than  in  the  hands  of  their  owners,  or 
some  of  the  students  on  both  sides  would  doubtless 
have  been  seriously  injured.  As  the  matter  now 
stood,  the  Wimpletonians  had  entire  possession  of 
the  Middleport,  for  that  was  the  name  of  the  steamer. 
Twenty  of  them  stood  in  the  act  of  charging  bay- 
onets in  the  direction  of  the  two  doors  leadinc:  from 
the  forward  deck.  Our  fellows  could  do  nothing  ; 
and  even  the  captain,  with  the  wheel  in  his  hand, 
was  as  powerless  as  they  were. 

Major  Waddic,  with  his  chapeau  and  white  plume, 
looked  as  though  he  were  the  commander-in-chief  of 
a  great  army,  and  had  just  achieved  a  bloody  victory. 
I  must  do  him  the  justice  to  say  that  he  had  man- 
aged the  affair  very  well,  though  I  saw  that  his  two 
captains,  Dick  Bayard  and  Ben  Piiikerton,  were 
always  near  him  with  words  of  counsel.  I  was  at 
a  loss  to  determine  whether  the  capture  of  the 
steamer  had  been  devised  on  the  instant,  or  whether 
the  boats  had  taken  the  position  in  the  channel  for 
that,  purpose    in    the   beginning.      I   was  inclined  to 


100  LIGHTXING   EXPRESS,    OE 


believe  that  the  bold  step  was  first  suggested  when 
their  leaders  saw  the  muskets  of  the  Toppletonians 
stacked  on  the  forward  deck,  and  not  a  single  soldier 
present  to  guard  them.  Ben  Pinkerton  afterwards 
told  me  that  this  view  was  correct. 

While  the  conquerors  were  disposing  their  forces 
so  as  to  hold  the  prize  they  had  captured,  Major 
Tommy  and  the  audience  who  were  listening  to  his 
angry  declamation  were  completely  intrapped.  The 
startling  event  was  calculated  to  turn  the  spouter's 
thoughts  into  a  new  channel.  It  seemed  to  me  that 
the  emergency  had  arisen  which  would  justify  me 
in  calling  the  attention  of  Major  Toppleton  to  the 
afiair ;  but  unfortunately  I  could  not  leave  just  then. 
The  steamer  had  backed  half  a  mile  from  the  island, 
and  had  now  shaken  off  all  the  boats  which  clung 
to  her. 

"I  don't  know  what  these  rufiians  intend  to  do," 
said  Captain  Underwood,  as  he  rang  the  bell  to  stop 
her. 

"Waddie  Wimpleton  is  reckless  enough  to  do 
almost  anything,"  I  replied;  for  I  regarded  the  sit- 
uation as  difficult,  if  not  dangerous. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  101 

"  I  will,  keep  the  boat  moving  towards  Midtlleport, 
at  any  rate." 

"  That's  right,  captain ;  if  they  have  us,  we  liave 
them  at  the  same  time,  and  we  can  carry  them  to 
Middleport  as  prisoners  of  war,"  I  added,  with  a 
smile  which  was  not  wholly  natural. 

Captain  Underwood  rang  the  bell  to  go  ahead, 
and  soon  gave  her  full  speed,  heading  the  boat  up 
the  lake. 

"  Hallo,  there !  "  shouted  Major  Waddie  from  the 
forward  deck,  as  he  flourislied  his  sword  towards  the 
wheel-house.     "  Stop  her !  " 

The  captain  paid  no  attention  to  this  imperious 
command. 

"  Do  you  hear  me  ?  I  say,  stop  her  !  "  yelled 
AVaddie. 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  you  little  bantam ! "  replied 
Captain  Underwood,  irreverently  ;  for,  as  he  owed 
no  allegiance  to  the  house  of  TVimpleton,  he  felt 
that  he  could  afford  to  speak  without  measuring  his 
words. 

"Will  you  obey  me,  or  not?"  demanded  Waddic, 
furious  because  his  imperious  will  was   not  regarded. 


102  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

But  the  two  captains,  who  were  really  the  brains 
of  the  battalion,  interjDOsed.  I  do  not  know  what 
they  said,  but  the  major  with  the  chapeau  desisted 
from  his  attempt  to  bully  the  captain.  They  were 
more  practical  in  their  operations  than  the  com- 
mander, and  presently  I  saw  them  forming  their 
forces  before  the  two  doors.  Captain  Bayard  drew 
up  his  company  before  one  of  them,  and  Captain 
Pinkerton  before  the  other. 

"  Charge  bayonets  !  "   said   Waddie,  fiercely. 

The  order  was  repeated  by  the  two  captains,  who 
placed  their  most  reliable    men  in   the  front. 

"  Forward  ! "  screamed  Major  Waddie,  making  a 
desperate  lunge  into  the  empty  air  with  his  flashing 
sword. 

"Forward!"  repeated  the  two  captains,  as  they 
drove  their  men  through  the  doors,  into  the  narrow 
space  on  each  side  of  the  boiler  and  engine-room. 

The  Toppletonians  were  in  these  spaces,  and  I 
saw  that  the  object  of  the  movement  was  to  drive 
them  aft,  and  get  possession  of  the  engine-room, 
so  as  to  control  the  machinery,  and  thus  prevent 
the    captain    from    taking    the    boat   to   Middleport. 


THE   KrVAL   ACADEMIES.  103 

Our  fellows,  unarmed,  could  not  stand  up  against 
the  bayonets  of  the  enemy,  and  we  heard  them  fall 
back.  I  concluded,  by  this  time,  that  Major  Tommy 
had  come  to  his  senses;  though,  if  he  was  disposed 
still  further  to  vent  his  ire,  he  had  an  excellent  op- 
portunity to  do  so  against  the  sharp-pointed  weapons 
of  his  conquerors. 

The  Toppletoniaus  were  not  only  driven  aft,  but 
were  forced  below  the  deck  into  the  little  cabin, 
which  was  hardly  large  enough  to  hold  them  all. 
A  little  later,  we  heard  a  violent  altercation  in  the 
engine-room,  and  then  the  boat  stopped.  The  Wira- 
pletonians  had  certainly  won  a  complete  victory. 


104  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OK 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FEATHERS   AND    THE   ENGINEER. 

MAJOR  TOMMY  TOPPLETON  and  Com- 
pany B  were  prisoners  in  the  little  cabin, 
while  Major  Wacldie  Wimpleton  and  Companies  A 
and  B  of  his  battalion  were  in  possession  of  the 
steamer.  The  wheels  had  stopped,  and  this  was 
evidence  to  us  in  the  wheel-house  that  Forbush,  the 
engineer,  bad  been  driven  from  his  post. 

"This  will  never  do,"  said  Captain  Underwood. 
"  The  young  rascals  will  blow  us  all  uj).  They  have 
stopped  the  engine,  and  have  not  let  off  steam." 

Though  it  was  really  becoming  quite  a  serious 
matter,  I  saw  that  the  captain  could  hardly  keep 
from  laughing,  there  was  something  so  absurd  in 
the  situation.  Major  Waddie,  in  his  chapeau  and 
gold  lace,  strutted  before  us  on  the  forward  deck, 
and  we  had  regarded  the  whole  affair  as  a  joke ;  but 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  105 

now  we  were  actually  in  the  toils  of  the  captors. 
They  had  not  yet  disturbed  the  occupants  of  the 
wheel-house ;  but  this  step  had  only  been  deferred 
till  the  other  parts  of  the  boat  were  made  secure 
The  Toppletonians  had  all  been  locked  up  in  the 
cabin,  and  the  engine-room,  the  citadel  of  the  boat, 
had  yielded. 

"  It  is  time  something  was  done,"  I  replied  to  the 
captain.  "  I  have  been  opposed  to  a  fight,  but  I 
think  one  is  necessary  about  this  time." 

"What  shall  we  do?" 

"That's  the  question.  The  Wimpletonians  are 
armed  with  ugly  weapons,"  I  added.  "  Thei-e  are 
three  of  us  besides  Forbush.  I  see  the  victors  have 
neglected  to  secure  the  captured  arms  on  the  for- 
ward deck.  "We  can  jump  down,  arm  ourselves,  and 
fight  it  out." 

"But  there  are  nearly  a  hundred  of  the  rascals," 
answered  Captain  Underwood.  "  Some  of  them  arc 
pretty  Avcll  grown,  and  all  of  them  have  been  exer- 
cised with  the  bayonet.  I  don't  relish  having  one 
of  those  things  stuck  into  me,  and  I  shouldn't  <laro 
to  punch  any  boy  with  such  an  ugly  iron.     I  think 


106  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OK 

I  would  ratber  do  what  fighting  I  do  without  any 
bayonet." 

The  captain  was  a  very  prudent  man,  certainly; 
and  I  was  aware  how  dangerous  it  would  be  to 
injure  one  of  the  Wimpletonians.  They  were  reck- 
less ;  we  were  cautious,  and  fearful  of  hurting  them ; 
so  that  they  had  every  advantage  over  us,  besides 
that  of  mere  numbers.  While  we  were  debating 
the  question,  Forbush  apj)eared  on  the  forward  deck. 
One  of  his  hands  was  covered  with  blood,  and  it 
was  plain  he  had  not  abandoned  his  post  without 
an  attempt  to  retain  it. 

"Captain  Underwood,  they  have  driven  me  out 
of  the  engine-room  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet," 
said  the  engineer,  holding  up  his  bloody  hand. 

"Come  up  here,"  replied  the  captain. 

"We  have  a  good  head  of  steam  on,  and  the 
engine   needs  some  one  to  look  out  for  it." 

"  Go  and  fix  it  as  it  ought  to  be ! "  said  the  im- 
perious Major  Waddie,  as  he  stalked  up  to  the 
engineer  with  his  drawn,  sword  in  his  hand. 

"  If  there  were  no  one  but  you  on  board,  I  would 
blow    you    so   high    you    would    never   come    down 


THE   KIVAL   ACADEMIES.  107 

again,"  added  Forbush,  as  he  glanced  at  liis  wound, 
ed  hand. 

"None  of  your  impudence,  but  do  as  I  tell  you,' 
jDuffed  TVaddie. 

"Look  out  for  the  engine,  Forbush,"  added  the 
captain ;  "  and  speak  to  the  fireman." 

Forbush  went  to  the  engine,  and  presently  the 
sound  of  the  steam  hissing  through  the  escape  pipe 
assured  us  the  peril  of  an  explosion  was  provided 
for.  The  engineer,  having  attended  to  this  duty, 
appeared  upon  the  forward  deck  again.  He  was 
not  a  very  demonstrative  man,  but  I  could  see  that 
he  was  nursing  his  wrath  under  the  imperious  man- 
ner of  "Waddie.  Passing  through  the  Wimpletoni- 
ans,  he  went  to  the  bow  of  the  boat. 

"Major,  there  is  "Wolf  Penniman  in  the  wheel- 
house,"  said  Dick  Bayard,  as  he  discovered  me  at 
one  of  the  windows. 

"  We'll  fix  him  in  due  time,"  replied  Waddie,  as 
lie  glanced  up  at  me  with  an  ugly  look,  which 
assured  me  I  had  nothing  to  hope  for  from  his 
magnanimity.  "  We  must  get  rid  of  those  fellows 
in   the   cabin   next." 


108  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OR 

"Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  Avitli  them?" 
asked  Captain  Ben  Pinkerton. 

"Land  them  in  some  out-of-the-way  place  on  the 
east  shore,  where  it  will  take  them  all  day  to  get 
home  again,"  suggested  Captain  Dick  Bayard. 

"  Where  ? "  inquired  Major  Waddie,  apparently 
pleased  with  the  idea. 

"At  the  point  off  the  North  Shoe,  for  instance," 
replied  Bayard. 

"  That's  the  plan ! "  exclaimed  the  major,  as  he 
sheathed  his  glittering  blade,  apparently  satisfied  that 
the  battle  was  finished.  "  "Wolf  Penniman,  come 
down  here ! "  he   added,  turning  to  me  again. 

"No,  I  thank  you,"  I  replied,  cheerfully. 

"If  you  want  to  get  out  of  this  scrape  with  a 
ivhole  skin,  you  had.  better  mind  what  I  tell  you," 
continued  Waddie,  involuntarily  putting  his  hand 
on  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

"I  think  I  can  best  keep  a  whole  skin  up  here," 
answered. 

"Better  go  down,"  interposed  the  captain.  "Mo- 
ses and  I  will  go  with  you." 

Moses  was  one  of  the  deck  hands,  who  had  been 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  109 

steering  when  the  capture  was  made.  There  were 
two  more  of  them,  besides  the  fireman  below,  making 
seven  men  on  board. 

"  Very  well ;  if  you  think  best  I  will  go  down,"  I 
replied. 

""We  had  better  keep  together,"  he  added. 

I  led  the  way  down  the  ladder,  and  as  the  cap- 
tain followed  me,  he  beckoned  to  the  deck  hands  to 
keep  near  us. 

"  You  have  concluded  to  mind  —  have  you  ? " 
sneered  Waddie,  as  I  presented  myself  before  his 
imperial  majorship, 

"I  concluded  to  come  down,"  I  answered. 

"  Wolf,  you  will  go  to  the  engine-room,  and  mind 
the  bells,"  he  continued. 

"Mr.  Forbush  is  the  engineer  of  this  boat,"  I 
replied. 

"  No  matter  if  he  is ;  you  will  do  as  I  tell  you, 
or  take  the   consequences." 

"  Then  I  will  take  the  consequences,"  I  answered, 
for  I  had  no  intention  of  helping  the  Wimpletonians 
];in<l  tlicir  conquered   foe  on  the  North  Point. 

"Here!     luiia     around     him!       Charge    bayonets  I 


110  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

Drive  him  into  the  engine-room ! "  said  Waddie, 
smartly. 

Instead  of  waiting  for  this  programme  to  be  car- 
ried out,  I  walked  forward  to  the  extreme  point  of 
the  bow,  where  the  engineer  had  taken  position.  I 
was  not  quite  sure  that  I  could  successfully  resist 
the  order;  but  it  was  not  in  my  nature  to  obey 
the  haughty  commands  of  Major  Waddie. 

"  That's  right ! "  said  Forbush,  as  I  joined  him. 
"I'm  glad  to  see  a  little  grit." 

Captain  Underwood  and  the  three  deck  hands  fol- 
lowed me  ;  but  Waddie  drew  his  sword,  and,  filled 
with  rage,  crowded  through  them  towards  me. 

"Wolf,  I  command  this  boat  now,  and  I  order 
you  to  the  engine-room,"  fumed  the  major,  as  he 
j^ointed  his  sword  at  me,  as  though  he  intended 
to  run  me  through;  and  I  am  not  sure  that  such 
was  not  his  purpose. 

Forbush's  patience  appeared  to  be  exhausted,  and 
before  I  had  time  to  make  any  reply,  he  suddenly 
sprang  upon  Waddie,  wrenched  the  sword  from  his 
grasp,  and,  seizing  him  by  the  collar,  jammed  him 
against  the  rail  with  so  much  force,  that  the  bantam 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  Ill 

major  howled  -with  pain  and  terror.  The  dignity 
of  his  military  position  was  knocked  out  of  him,  and 
the  glory  of  the  chapeau,  feathers,  and  gold  lace 
departed.  •        , 

"Look  out  for. the  rest  of  them!"  called  Forbush. 

I  picked  up  one  of  the  guns  Avhich  the  captors 
had  thrown  one  side,  and  the  three  deck  hands  fol- 
lowed my  example.  Captain  Underwood,  still  true 
to  his  humane  philosophy,  took  a  handspike.  But 
the  sudden  movement  of  the  engineer  seemed  to 
paralyze  the  valiant  soldiers  for  the  moment,  as  they 
paused  to  see  what  the  grimy  Forbush  intended  to 
do  with  their  leader. 

"Rally!  rally!"  shouted  Captain  Bayard,  who, 
now  tliat  the  major  was  Jiors  de  combat^  was  the 
ranking  officer.     "  Charge  bayonets  ! " 

"  You  keep  back  ! "  replied  Forbush.  "  If  one  of 
you  takes  a  single  step  forward,  I  will  throw  this 
fellow  overboard;"  and  he  jammed  poor  WadJie 
against  the  rail  again,  until  we  could  almost  hear 
his  bones  crack. 

"Don't!  don't!"  groaned  TYaddie.  "  Keep  the  fel- 
lows back,  Dick   Bayanl,  oi-   he   will  kill  me  I " 


112  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

"That's  so,"  replied  the  stout  engineer,  who  did 
not  weigh  less  than  one  hundred  and  eighty,  and 
was  six  feet  high. 

By  this  time  the  four  men  and  myself  were  drawn 
UI5  in  line  of  battle.  It  was  clear  enough  to  the 
Wimpletonians  that,  if  the  action  began,  there  would 
be  some  broken  heads,  if  not  bleeding  bodies.  How- 
ever lightly  they  regarded  bayonet  wounds  when  the 
weapons  were  in  their  own  hands  only,  they  seemed 
to  have  a  great  respect  for  the  cold  steel  in  the 
hands  of  others.  They  formed  their  line  in  the  act 
of  charging  bayonets;  but  they  did  not  charge  any. 
There  they  stood,  arrested  by  the  plaintive  cry  of 
their  gallant  leader. 

"Xow,  come  out  here,  Feathers!"  said  Forbush, 
as  he  took  Waddie  by  the  collar,  besmearing  the 
major's  face  with  blood  from  his  wounded  hand,  and 
trotting  him  up  to  the  line.  "  Come  up  here  again, 
and  take  command !  Order  these  cubs  upon  the 
hurricane  deck,  or  I  will  make  short  work  of  you ! " 

The  engineer  emphasized  his  commands  by  shak- 
ing Waddie  most  unmercifully. 

"  You  let  me  alone ! "  howled  the  discomfited 
commander  of  the  battalion. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  113 

"  ni  let  you  alone  when  I  have  done  with  you," 
added  Forbush,  as  he  twisted  his  gripe  upon  the 
collar  of  his  victim,  so  as  almost  to  choke  him. 

"You'll  kill  me!"  gasped  Waddie. 

"  Will  you  give  the  order  I  told  you  ? " 

"  Send  the  fellows  upon  the  hurricane  deck ! " 
whined  Waddie  to  Dick  Bayard,  crying  and  howling 
at  the  same  time. 

"Don't  do  it,  Dick!"  said  Pinkerton,  who  could 
not  endure  the  thought  of  having  the  victory  wrest- 
ed from  the  conquerors  in  the  very  moment  of  their 
triumph. 

"  Waddie  says  so.  What  can  we  do  ? "  replied 
Bayard. 

"They  don't  mind,"  added  Forbush,  shaking  the 
unfortunate  major  again. 

"  Do  as  I  tell  you,  Dick  Bayard  I "  called  Waddie, 
writhing  under  the  torture. 

Very  reluctantly  the  senior  captain  gave  the  order, 
and  the  Wimpletonians  crept  up  the  ladders  to  the 
hurricane   deck. 

"Now  let  me  alone!"  growled  Waddie,  trying  to 
sliakc  off  his  powerful  persecutor. 
8 


114  LIGnT:NING   EXPKESS,  OB 

"  Hold  still,  Feathers !  "  replied  Forbush,  applying 
a  little  gentle  force,  as  if  to  assure  his  victim  that 
the  tragedy  was  not  yet  ended. 

The  engineer  was  now  in  excellent  humor,  and 
was  exceedingly  pleased  with  the  turn  he  had  given 
to  the  affair. 

"Ain't  you  going  to  let  me  go  now?"  added  the 
major,  in  a  pleading  tone. 

"Not  yet.  Feathers.  You  must  give  security  for 
the  good  behavior  of  your  crowd." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me  ? "  asked 
Waddie. 

"  I'm  going  to  throw  you  overboard  if  you  don't 
behave  like  a  man.  Now,  Captain  Underwood,  you 
can  let  out  our  boys.  These  rascals  have  locked 
them  np  in  the  cabin." 

"Better  get  rid  of  the  "Wimps  first,"  I  whispered 
to  the    captain. 

""What  shall  we  do  with  these  fellows?"  he  re- 
plied, with  a  significant  glance  at  me,  as  he  compre- 
hended my  meaning. 

"Land   them   at  North  Point,"  I  suggested. 

"Good!"    laughed  Forbush.      "It   is   a    poor  rule 


THE   KIVAL    ACADEMIES.  115 

that  won't  -work  both  ways.  "What  do  you  say,  Cap- 
tain Underwood  ?  " 

"  Anything  to  get  rid  of  them ! "  rej)lied  the  cap- 
tain, impatiently. 

"Very  well;  I  will  take  care  of  Feathers.  I  will 
keep  him  in  the  engine-room  with  me,"  added  For- 
bush.  "Xow,  Wolf,  you  and  the  three  deck  hands 
stay  here.  If  those  fellows  up  there  attempt  any- 
thing mischievous,  you  cull  me,  and  Feathers  and  I 
will  settle  it  —  won't  we,  Feathers  ?  " 

Forhush  laughed  till  his  fat  sides  shook,  and  then 
dragged  Major  "Waddie  to  the  engine-room. 


ilQ  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OB 


CHAPTER  X. 


KEEPING    THE    PEACE. 


'ADN'T  we  better  lot  oui-  boys  out  before 
we  go  ahead?"  asked  Captain  Underwood, 
in  a  low  tone,  as  the  enguieer  disappeared  with  his 
jDrisoner. 

"  There  will  be  a  fight  if  we  do,"  I  replied.  "  "We 
can  land  the  "Wimj^s  in  ten  or  fifteen  minutes." 

"  What  will  Tommy  say  ? "  added  Captain  Un- 
derwood. 

"No  matter  what  he  says.  It  is  better  to  keep 
the  peace  than  to  let  them  out." 

Doubtless  he  fully  agreed  with  me;  but  he  dread- 
ed the  wrath  of  his  employer's  son  even  more  than 
the  violence  of  the  Wimpletonians.  He  went  up 
to  the  wheel-house,  and  rang  the  bell  to  go  ahead. 
The  discomfited  enemy  on  the  hurricane  deck  were 
discussing  the  exciting  topic  very  earnestly.     It  was 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.-  117 

humiliating  for  all  of  them  to  lay  down  their  arms, 
practically,  on  account  of  the  capture  of  their 
leader.  Ben  Pinkerton  was  in  favor  of  fighting 
it  out,  and  rescuing  "Waddie  from  the  gripe  of  his 
persecutor  by  force  and  arms ;  but  timid  counsels 
finally  prevailed,  and  the  battalion  kept  quiet. 

I  had  gone  up  the  ladder  when  the  boat  started, 
BO  that  I  could  see  what  they  wei-e  doing,  and 
hear  what  they  were  saying ;  but  I  kept  my  line 
of  retreat  open,  so  that  I  could  make  for  the  for- 
ward deck  if  a  storm  appeared.  It  was  only  a 
short  run  to  North  Point,  and  we  soon  made  the 
landing  at  a  rude  pier,  erected  for  passengers  going 
to  an  interior  town.  As  soon  as  the  steamer  was 
made  fast,  Forbush  appeared  on  the  forward  deck, 
dragging  Waddie  by  the  collar,  and  carrying  the 
Bword  in  his  hand.  Taking  position  in  the  bow  of 
the  boat,  where  he  could  not  be  assaulted  in  the 
rear,  the  engineer  planted  his  prisoner  in  front  of 
him,  while  the  deck  hands,  reiinforced  by  the  fire- 
man and  myself,  formed  a  line  between  him  and 
the  gangway. 

"Now,  Feathers,  if  your    men    are    good    soldiers 


118  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

they  will  obey  you,"  Foibush  began.  "Just  give 
tbera  the  order  to  march  down  in  single  file,  and 
go  ashore  ! " 

Waddie  was  humiliated  by  his  defeat.  He  was 
ashamed  to  confess,  practically,  that  the  battalion 
had  been  defeated  by  his  regard  for  his  own  safety. 
But  he  was  still  in  the  power  of  the  fierce  engi- 
neer, whose  bloody  hand  was  upon  his  throat.  He 
hesitated ;  but  every  instant  of  delay  caused  For- 
bush  to  tighten  his  hold,  and  it  was  painfully  ap- 
parent to  him  that  he  must  give  the  order,  or  be 
choked  by  his  unrelenting  tyrant. 

"  Speak,  Feathers,  speak ! "  said  the  engineer. 
"Give  your  orders,  and  speak  up  like  a  man,  so 
that  they  can  hear  you ! " 

«  Don't !  Don't !  You  hurt  me ! "  whined  the 
major. 

"  That's  nothing  to  what  will  come  if  you  don't 
do  as  I  tell  you." 

"  March  them  down,  Dick  Bayard,"  howled  Wad- 
die,  as  Forbush  emphasized  his  determination  by  a 
fierce  twist  at  the  neck  of  his  victim. 

"  In  single  file,"  added  the  engineer. 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  119 

"Single  file,  Dick!"  repeated  Waddie. 

"  Single  file  —  forward,  march ! "  said  Captain  Dick 
Bayard,  who  was  plainly  disgusted  with  the  pro- 
ceedings. 

The  column  of  valiant  warriors,  grand  even  in 
their  misfortunes,  descended  the  ladder  on  the  port 
side,  and  stepped  on  shore.  They  looked  as  sheep- 
ish as  the  lambs  on  the  neighboring  hills;  but 
they  were  full  of  bottled-up  rage,  and  as  soon  as 
Waddie  was  out  of  trouble,  it  was  probable  that 
somethins:  would  be  done. 

"  Now  let  me  go ! "  snapped  Waddie,  when  the 
last  of  the  file  had  left  the  boat. 

"  Not  yet.  Feathers,"  replied  Forbush,  as  he 
glanced  at  the  two  companies  on  the  pier.  "  Or- 
der your  troops  to  march  up  to  the  grove  on  the 
shore." 

"What  for?"    groaned  Waddie. 

"Good  soldiers  never  ask  questions,"  laughed  the 
engineer,  as  he  twisted  the  major's  collar  again. 

Waddie  gave  the  order  as  he  was  required, 
and  Dick  Bayard,  who  appeared  to  be  on  the 
watch  for  a  chance   to   redeem   the   fortunes  of  the 


120  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

day,  doggedly  led  the  battalion  away  from  the 
steamer. 

"Now  it  is  all  right.  Feathers,"  said  Forbush. 
"Next  time,  when  you  want  a  steamer,  you  had 
better  apply  at  the  cajDtain's  office." 

"  I  didn't  want  your  old  steamer,"  snarled  the 
gallant  major. 

"What  did  you  take  her  for,  then?" 

"Because  you  were  going  to  run  down  our  boats. 
I  heard  Tommy  Toppleton  tell  the  captain  to 
do  so." 

"  Why  didn't  you  get  out  of  the  way  ? " 

"We  never  get  out  of  the  way  for  Toppleton 
humbugs,"  sneered  Waddie.  "Tou  haven't  seen 
the  end  of  this." 

"We  shall  probably  see  the  end  of  it  together. 
Here  is  your  cheese  knife.  Feathers ;  but  behave 
yourself,  or  you  haven't  seen  the  worst  of  it  yet. 
Mind  that,  Feathers!" 

Waddie  took  his  sword,  and  looked  daggers ; 
but  he  dared  not  use  any,  or  even  the  weapon 
he  held  in  his  hand.  Sullenly,  he  walked  across 
the    deck    to  .the    pier.    He   wanted    to    do    some- 


THE   EIYAL   ACADEMIES.  121 

thing,  but  lie  was  prudent  when  his  own  person 
was  in  peril. 

"Cast  off  the  fasts,  Moses,"  said  Forbush,  as  he 
hastened  to  the  engine-room. 

"  Come  down  here ! "  shouted  Major  "Waddie  to 
his  forces  in  the  grove.     "  Come !     Double  quick ! " 

I  do  not  know  what  the  valiant  major  intended 
to  do  next;  but  probably,  if  his  forces  had  not  been 
sent  to  the  grove  by  the  forethought  of  the  en- 
gineer, he  would  have  ordered  an  assault  upon  the 
Middleport,  and  endeavored  to  recapture  her.  He 
would  have  directed  his  troops  to  charge  upon  any- 
thing, so  long  as  he  could  keep  behind  them,  and 
make  good  his  own  escape  in  case  of  disaster.  He 
was  reckless  enough  to  do  anything ;  but  as  soon 
as  the  fasts  were  cast  off.  Captain  Underwood  rang 
to  back  her,  and  tlie  boat  was  clear  of  the  pier 
long  before  Waddie  could  bring  up  his  forces. 

"  We  are  well  out  of  that,"  said  the  captain,  as 
he  rang  to  go  ahead.  "Now  you  can  let  our  boys 
out  of  tlie  cabin." 

I  was  not  exactly  satisfied  with  the  situation  in 
which  I  found  myself,  for  thougli  I  wns  very  hapi»y 


122  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

in  having  escaped  the  wrath  of  Waddie  Wiraple- 
ton,  I  had  still  to  encounter  the  ire  of  the  other 
"scion  of  a  noble  house."  I  had  expected  to  be 
broiled  on  a  gridiron,  or  subjected  to  some  fearful 
punishment,  for  my  sins  against  the  house  of  Wim- 
pleton;  and  probably  I  should  have  been  a  sufferer, 
if  Forbush  had  not  taken  the  matter  in  hand,  and 
brought  it  to  an  issue.  Now  Tommy  would  berate 
me  for  refusing  to  obey  his  order,  when  the  engi- 
neer had  declined  to  do  so ;  but  I  was  willing  to 
meet  this  chai-ge,  if  I  could  escape  the  responsibil- 
ity of  advising  the  captain  to  keep  "  our  boys "  pris- 
oners after  we  had  subdued  the  enemy. 

I  went  to  the  cabin  door  to  discharge  my  mission. 
It  had  been  fastened  with  a  piece  of  wood,  placed 
in  the  staple  over  the  hasp,  for  the  padlock  with 
which  it  was  usually  secured  was  lost.  I  threw 
the  door  wide  open,  and  announced  to  the  pris 
oners  below  that  they  were  free. 

"  The  door  is  open,  Major  Toppleton,"  called  one 
of  the  students  to  his  chief. 

"Where  are  the  Wimps?"  demanded  Major  Tom- 
my, as  he  led  the  way  out  of  the  cabin. 


THE   EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  123 

"  We  put  them  on  shore  here,  at  North  Point, 
where  they  intended  to  land  yon,"  I  replied. 

"Why  didn't  you  obey  my  order  when  I  told  you 
to  take  charge  of  the  engine  ? "  continued  Tommy, 
his  face  beginning  to  kindle  up  with  anger  again. 

"I  couldn't  take  the  engine  out  of  Mr.  Forbush's 
hands,"  I  replied  with  becoming  meekness. 

"Forbush  shall  be  discharged  when  the  boat  re- 
turns," said  Tommy,  shaking  his  head. 

*'  Perhaps  you  will  change  your  mind  when  you 
learn  what  he  has  done,"  I  suggested.  "  He  recap- 
tured the  boat,  after  he  had  been  driven  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet  from  the  engine-room.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  hand,  too,  in  the  scrape.  I 
don't  know  how  we  should  have  got  out  of  it  if 
it  hadn't  been  for  him.  He  is  a  plucky  fellow,  and 
stood  up  against  the  bayonets  of  the  whole  crowd 
of  Wimps." 

"  What  did  he  do  ?  "  asked  Tommy,  curiously. 

"He  captured  Waddie  Wimpleton,  took  liis  sword 
away  Irom  him,  and  made  him  order  his  command 
to  the  hurricane  deck." 

"When  was  that?" 


124  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OE 

"Well,  a  short  time  ago,"  I  replied,  cautiously. 

"  Why  didn't  you  let  us  out  then  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"All  the  Wimps  were  here  on  deck.  We  let  you 
out  just  as  soon  as  we  got  rid  of  them." 

"  What  did  you  let  them  go  for,  if  you  had 
Waddie  ?  " 

"  There  were  two  comiDanies  of  them,  and  they 
were  armed  with  bayonets.  We  were  glad  enough 
to  get  rid  of  them." 

Tommy  thought,  if  he  had  been  called  with  hia 
force,  he  could  have  taken  care  of  the  WimpletO' 
nians ;  but  he  behaved  better  than  I  expected.  I 
turned  his  attention  back  to  Forbush,  and  minutely 
described  to  the  major  and  his  men  the  operations 
of  the  engineer,  and  the  conduct  of  Waddie  under 
the  torture.  Tommy  laughed,  and  the  soldiers 
laughed.  It  was  a  good  joke,  and  they  were  sorry 
they  had  not  seen  the  fun. 

"  I  hope  you  won't  find  fault  with  Mr.  Forbush^ 
after  the  good  service  he  has  rendered,  and  the 
cut  he  received  in  the  hand  in  doing  his  duty,"  I 
ventured  to  suggest. 

"  No !  No !  No ! "  murmured  the  boys. 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  125 

"  I  am  willing  to  forgive  him,"  replied  Tommy, 
magnanimously.  "But  if  he  had  obeyed  my  order, 
there  would  have  been  no  trouble." 

""What  do  you  think  the  consequences  would 
have  been  if  he  had  obeyed  your  order  ? "  I  mildly 
inquired. 

"Xo  matter  what  they  were;  both  he  and  you 
ought  to  have  done  as  I  told  you  to  do." 

"The  fellows  in  the  boats  would  have  been 
smashed  up  under  the  wheels  of  the  steamer." 

"Xo,  they  wouldn't.  I  only  meant  to  duck  them 
a  little.  I  should  have  stopped  the  wheels  in  a 
minute." 

I  was  very  glad  to  hoar  Tommy  acknowledge 
that  he  did  not  mean  to  annihilate  the  "Wimple- 
tonians,  for  I  had  a  very  good  opinion  of  him,  on 
the  whole.  Though  he  did  not  mean  seriously  to 
injure  the  enemy,  I  have  no  doubt  some  of  them 
would  have  been  sacrificed  if  he  could  have  had 
his  own  way.  It  is  a  blessed  thing  that  boys  can't 
always  have  tlieir  own  way. 

I  walked  with  Tommy  to  the  engine-room,  whero 
Forbush    was   binding   up   the    wound   on    his   hand. 


l26  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

The  little  major  kindly  inquired  about  the  injury, 
and  thanked  the  engineer  for  the  service  he  had 
rendered ;  but  he  could  not  help  adding  that  it 
would  have  been  better  if  the  order  he  gave  had 
been  obeyed.  He  then  went  up  to  the  wheel-house 
to  see  the  captain ;  and  as  it  did  not  appear  that 
he  had  done  anything  worthy  of  especial  commen- 
dation, Tommy  wanted  to  know  why  he  had  not 
let  him  out  of  the  cabin  sooner. 

"We  didn't  think  it  was  best  to  open  the  doors 
till  we  had  landed  the  Wimpletonians,"  replied 
Captain  Underwood,  with  moi'e  candor  than  pru- 
dence. 

"You  didn't,  eh?"  said  Tommy,  waxing  angry. 

"  "VYolf  thought  you  wouldn't  care  to  see  the 
other  boys." 

"Then  he  advised  you  not  to  let  us  out  — 
did   he?" 

"  He  thought  it  wasn't  best ;  and  I  thought  so 
too,"  added  the  captain,  willing  to  share  the  blame 
with  me. 

"  What  did  you  mean.  Wolf? "  demanded  the 
major,  turning  to  me. 


THE   EIYAL   ACADEinKS.  127 

*  The  "Wimps  had  two  companies,  and  you  had 
only  one,"  I  replied ;  but  it  was  in  vain  that  I 
tried  to  smooth  the  matter  over. 

lie  was  mad  Avith  me,  because,  in  my  capacity 
as  a  messenger  of  peace,  I  had  prevented  a  fight ; 
but  I  was  satisfied.  The  boat  ran  up  to  the  land- 
ing-place on  the  Horse  Shoe,  and  the  "troops" 
and  their  baggage  were  disembarked. 

"Wolf,  you  may  go  back  to  Middleport  in  the 
steamer;  I  don't  Avant  you  here,"  said  Tommy. 

But  I  was  the  ambassador  of  peace  1 


128  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OE 


i 


.r 


CHAPTER  XL 


AT    THE    HOESE    SHOE. 


"  ~|  ■  SHOULD   like  to  stay  with   you   a   few  clays, 

JL  Major  Tommy,"  I  ventured  to  say,  after  the 
young  lord  had  given  me  the  imperative  order  to 
depart  on  the  steamer. 

"  I  say  I  don't  want  you  here,"  replied  Tommy, 
flatly.     "  We  can  get  along  without  you." 

"Perhaps  I  may  be  of  some  service  to  you,"  I 
modestly   suggested. 

"I  don't  want  any  fellow  about  me  that  won't 
obey  orders,"  j^rotested  the  little  major.  "You  ad- 
vised the  captain  to  keep  us  locked  up  in  that  cabin, 
when  we  might  have  cleaned  out  the  Wimps,  and 
paid  them  off  for  what  they  did." 

"  Your  father  sent  me  down  here,  Tommy,  to  .do 
anything  I  could  to  assist  you,"  I  added. 

"  I  don't  care  if  he  did ! "  replied  Tommy,  irritat' 
ed  rather  than  conciliated  by  this  remark. 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  129 

"He  wished  me  to  stay  with  you;  it  was  not  by 
my  own  desire  that  I  came." 

"Did  he  send  you  here  to  be  a  spy  upon  our 
actions?  If  he  did,  s--  much  the  more  reason  why 
we  should  get  rid  of  you.  "We  don't  want  any  spies 
and  go-betweens  here." 

"I  am   not  a  spy,  Tommy." 

"Go  on  board  the  steamer,  and  tell  my  father  I 
won't  have  you  here." 

"Very  well,"  I  replied,  as  I  walked  away  from 
the  imperious  little  magnate. 

"Wolf  is  a  good  fellow,"  I  heard  the  dignified 
Skotchley  say  to  Tommy,  as  I  departed.  "  I  wouldn't 
send  him  oflf." 

"You  wouldn't,  and  you  needn't.  I  will,  and  shall," 
replied  Tommy,  curtly. 

By  this  time  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  Company 
A  had  gathered  at  the  shore,  and  I  found  I  had 
quite  a  number  of  friends  who  were  willing  to  in- 
tercede for  me;  but  if  all  the  officers  of  the  bat- 
talion had  gone  down  upon  their  knees  to  him  in 
my  behalf^  he  would  not  have  yielded.  I  was  ban- 
ished from  the  island  ;  and,  though  I  was  very  will- 
9 


130  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OE 

ing  to  go,  much  preferring  to  siiend  my  vacation  iu 
some  contemi^lated  improvements  upon  our  garden, 
I  did  not  wish  to  be  sent  away  in  disgrace.  I  saw 
that  Skotchley  did  not  hke  the  manner  in  which 
his  interposition  had  been  treated,  and  just  as  the 
boat  was  about  to  start,  I  was  not  a  little  surj)rised 
to  see  him  come  on  board. 

"  Faxon  is  as  mad  as  a  March  hare,"  said  he,  walk- 
ing up  to  me. 

"What  is  the  matter?" 

"  He  says  it  is  mean  to  send  you  off  in  this  way." 

"I  am  willing  to  go;  I  don't  care  about  staying 
here,  for  there  will  be  a  fight  soon,"  I  added.  "But 
Major  Toj^jjleton  sent  me  here,  and  I  thought  I 
ought  to  stay." 

"  I  would  stay,  if  I  were  you,"  said  Skotchley. 

"  No ;  I  won't  make  any  trouble.  But  tlie  steam- 
er is  starting ;  you  will  be  carried  off  if  you  don't 
go  on  shore." 

"That  is  just  what  I  want,"  rejilied  the  dignified 
student,  with  a  smile.  "Like  yourself,  I  don't  wish 
to  make  any  trouble ;  but  I  will  not  be  snubbed  by 
Major  Tommy  Toj)pleton.  I  prefer  to  spend  my 
vacation  in  some  other  place." 


THE   KIVAL   ACADEMIES.  131 

"All  ashore,"  said  Captain  Underwood,  nodding 
to  my  comjianion. 

"I  am  going  with  you,  captain." 

"  Very  well ; "  and  the  bell  was  rung  to  start  her. 

"  Hallo,  there  !  Stop  her.  Captain  Underwood ! " 
called  the  imperious  major. 

The  captain  obeyed,  of  course. 

"Where  are  you  going,  Skotchley?"  demanded 
Tommy. 

"I  am  going  to  Middleport,"  rei^lied  Skotchley, 
in  his  quiet  manner. 

"I  don't  see  it!"  added  the  major,  his  face  red- 
dening with  anger  at  this  breach  of  discipline. 
"You  are  first   lieutenant   of   Company  B." 

"I  prefer  not  to  remain." 

"  But  I  i>refer  that  you  should  remain,"  stormed 
Tommy. 

"I  am  sorry  to  disappoint  you,  but  I  have  decid- 
ed to  go." 

"  Will  you  come  on  shore,  or  will  you  be  brought 
on  shore  ?  " 

"  Neither." 

"Captain  Briscoe,  take   a  file   of  men,  and  bring 


132  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OK 

Skotchley  on  shore.  He  is  a  deserter,"  added 
Tommy. 

Whew!     A  deserter! 

"Go  ahead,  cai^tain,"  I  suggested  to  the  timid 
master  of  the  steamer.  "  There  will  be  a  row  here 
in  five   minutes,  if  you  don't." 

"  It  is  all  my  jDlace  is  worth  to  disobey  that  strip- 
ling," replied  Captain  Underwood,  disgusted  with 
the  situation.  "His  father  rules  all  Middleport,  and 
he  rules  his  father." 

I  saw  Faxon  remonstrating  in  the  most  vigorous 
manner  with  the  commander  of  the  battalion,  and 
presently  the  former  came  on  board  with  the  olive 
of  peace  in  his  hand.  He  begged  Skotchley  to  re- 
turn to  the  shore,  in  order  to  save  all  further 
trouble. 

"  If  Tommy  will  permit  "Wolf  to  remain,  I  will," 
replied  the  dignified  student. 

Faxon  returned  to  the  shore  with  these  terms; 
but  Tommy  indignantly  declined  them.  He  would 
have  Skotchley,  and  he  would  not  have  me.  The 
order  was  given  again  for  Caj^tain  Briscoe  to  bring 
the  refractory  lieutenant  on  shore  with  a  file  of  sol- 


THE   PJVAL    ACADEMIES.  lliS 

diers;  but  the  men  would  not  "fall  in"  to  execute 
such  a  command.  Skotchley  was  the  most  influen- 
tial fellow  among  the  students,  as  his  election  to  the 
presidency  of  the  railroad  proved.  Though  he  was 
dignified,  and  remarkably  correct  in  his  deportment, 
he  was  very  popular.  Tommy  had  just  snubbed  him, 
and  this  had  excited  the  indignation  of  the  crowd. 
Briscoe  and  a  dozen  others  threatened  to  leave  the 
camp,  and  actually  made  a  movement  towards  the 
steamer. 

Major  Tommy  was  in  a  quandary.  There  was  a 
mutiny  among  the  forces,  and  the  prosi:)ect  at  that 
moment  was  the  breaking  up  of  the  camp.  The 
students  had  long  been  disgusted  with  Tommy's 
tyranny,  and  it  did  not  require  much  to  kindle  the 
flames  of  insurrection  in  the  battalion.  Hurried  con- 
sultations among  groups  of  ofiicers  and  privates  indi- 
cated a  tempest.  The  little  magnate  was  shrewd 
enougli  now  to  see  that  he  had  gone  too  far,  but 
his  pride  would  not  permit  him  to  recede. 

The  disaffected  ones  who  had  the  courage  to  strike 
for  their  own  riglits  were  collecting  near  the  ])icr. 
Briscoe   ai)peared   to  be   the   leading  rebel,   and   the 


1?4  LIGnTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

force  which  gathered  around  him  included  half  the 
battalion.  Tommy  was  informed  that  they  intended 
to  desert  in   a  body. 

"  Start  your  boat,  Captain  Underwood,"  said 
Tommy,  in  order  to  prevent  the  departure  of  the 
rebels. 

The  captain  pulled  the  bells,  and  the  wheels  of 
the  Middleport  turned. 

"Now  stop  her!"  shouted  the  major;  and  it  was 
evident  that  he  intended  only  to  move  the  steamer 
fir  enough  from  the  shore  to  prevent  the  escape  of 
the  disaffected  portion   of  his  command. 

I  heai-d  the  last  order,  but  the  caiDtain  did  not, 
for  I  had  moved  to  the  stern,  in  order  to  see  the 
result.  • 

"  Stop  her,  I  say,"  repeated  Tommy,  savagely. 

Still  Captain  Underwood  did  not,  or  would  not, 
hear  him,  and  the  Middleport  went  on  her  way. 

"  Tell  the  captain  to  stop  her ! "  screamed  Tom- 
my, at  the  tojD  of  his  lungs. 

I  deemed  it  to  be  in  the  interests  of  peace  not  to 
heed  this  order,  for  I  was  afraid,  if  I  communicated 
it  to  the   cajitain,  he  would  obey.      The  little  major 


THE   EIYAL   ACADEMIES.  135 

screamed  till  he  was  hoarse;  but  we  were  clear  of 
the  island,  though  it  was  certain  there  was  an  ac- 
count to  be  settled  in  the  future. 

"  Our  Academy  would  be  a  great  institution,  if 
Tommy  Toppleton  went  to  school  somewhere  else," 
said  Skotchley. 

"  It  is  a  great  pity  he  is  so  overbearing,"  I  re- 
plied. 

"  He  seems  to  think  all  the  rest  of  the  fellows 
were  created  only  to  be  his  servants,  and  he  treads 
upon  them  as  though  they  were  worms  beneath  his 
feet.  I  have  not  been  accustomed  to  have  a  fellow 
speak  to  me  as  he  did  to-day." 

"  He  is  very  haughty ;  but  he  is  a  generous  fellow, 
and  has  many  other  good  qualities." 

"But  one  can't  live  with  him,  he  is  so  overbear- 
ing. I  am  rather  sorry  now  that  I  did  not  accept 
the  office  of  president  of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad, 
when  I  was  elected.  It  would  have  brought  affairs 
to  a  head.  But  I  did  not  want  to  spite  him,  for 
he  never  treated  me  so  badly  before." 

■Tommy  had  made  a  great  mistake  in  alienating 
such   a   fellow  as   Skotchley.      It    was   evident    that 


136  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OB 


the  tempest  among  the  students  could  not  much 
longer  be  delayed,  if  it  had  not  already  commenced. 
From  the  deck  of  the  Middlejjort,  we  saw  the  two 
companies  march  to  the  camp  ground,  and  begin  to 
pitch  the  tents.  It  was  probable  that  the  mutiny 
had  been  nipped  in  the  bud  by  the  dejiarture  of  the 
steamer  with  Skotchley  on  boaixl.  I  was  afterwards 
told  that  the  students  regarded  Tommy's  order  to 
start  the  boat  as  yielding  the  point,  and  that,  when 
he  failed  to  stoj)  her,  he  accepted  the  situation,  and 
made  a  virtue  of  necessity,  permitting  the  boys  to 
believe  that  the  Middleport  had  departed  in  obedi- 
ence to  his  command. 

The  boats  of  the  Wimpletonians  were  moving 
towards  North  Point,  for  those  in  charge  of  them 
had  comprehended  the  final  defeat  of  their  party. 
It  only  remained  for  them  to  seek  another  camp 
ground,  or  make  the  attempt  to  drive  the  Toppleto- 
nians  from  their  position.  Skotchley  and  I  agi-eed 
that  they  would  not  long  be  quiet,  and  that  the 
week  would  be  filled  up  with  quarrels  and  skir, 
mishes  between   the  students  of  the  rival  academies 

In  an  hour  the   steamer  arrived  at  the    wharf  in 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  137 

Middleport,  and  we  went  on  shore.  I  invited 
Skotchley,  as  the  Institute  was  closed,  to  spend  the 
week  with  me  at  ray  father's  house.  He  thanked 
me  very  cordially,  and  accepted  the  invitation;  but 
before  I  went  home,  I  deemed  it  proper  to  report 
to  Major  Toi-)pleton  the  events  which  had  transpired 
durinof  the  forenoon.  I  intended  to  call  at  his  house 
on  my  way  home;  but  we  met  him  coming  down 
the  street  towards  the  pier. 

"  I  thought  you  went  up  to  the  camj^,  Wolf,"  said 
he,  much  surprised  when  he  saw  me. 

"  I  have  been,  sir,  and  a  sweet  time  we  have  had 
of  it.  Tommy  sent  me  off,  and  would  not  permit 
me  to  remain  on  the  island." 

"Wliat  has  happened?"  he  asked,  anxiously. 

I  told  him  the  story  of  the  morning's  adventures, 
thouiih  it  took  me  half  an  hour  to  do  so. 

"  And  Tommy  sent  you  off —  did  he  ? "  laughed 
the  major. 

"Yes,  sir  —  because  I  advised  the  captain  not  to 
let  our  fellows  out  of  the  cabin  until  we  got  rid  of 
the  Wimits;  but  if  they  had  been  let  out,  there  would 
Ijave  been   a  fight  with  bayonets.'* 


138  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,  OR 

"  I  am  very  glad  you  didn't  let  tliem  out  then ; 
but  Tommy  is  rather  a  difficult  subject  to  manage," 
continued  the  major,  lightly.  "I  have  to  coax  him 
a  great  deal,  for  he  is  bound  to  have  his  own  way. 
If  he  is  thwarted,  it  has  a  bad'eftect  upon  him.  I 
sent  you  up  to  the  island  to  keep  the  run  of  things 
there ;  but  of  course  I  did  not  expect  you  to  oppose 
him." 

"I  did  the  best  I  could,   sir." 

"You  did  very  well;  but  I  am  sorry  Tommy 
sent  you  away,  for  I  thought  you  might  have  some 
influence  with  him.  Did  he  send  you  away  too, 
Skotchley  ?  "  he  added,  turning  to  my  companion. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  came  of  my  own  accord,"  rej^Iied  the 
dignified  student :  but  he  did  not  think  it  necessary 
to  add  that  he  and  Tommy  had  fallen  out. 

"You  think  there  will  be  a  fight  between  the 
two  sides  up  there  ?  "  continued  the  major. 

"Before  the  week  is  out  there  will  be." 

"Something  must  be  done,"  said  the  major,  anx- 
iously. 

I  saw  now  that  he  was  quite  as  much  the  victim 
of  Tommy's  waywardness  as  the  students  of  the 
Institute. 


THE   RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  139 


CHAPTER  XII. 


rP    THE    LAKE. 


MAJOR  TOPPLETON  was  absolutely  afraid 
of  liis  son.  There  was  a  rumor  in  Middle- 
jiort — though  I  did  not  liear  of  it  until  after  the 
events  narrated  had  transpired  —  that  his  father  had 
positively  refused  to  permit  Tommy  to  have  his  own 
way  on  one  occasion,  when  the  young  gentleman  in- 
sisted upon  discharging  a  favorite  servant  of  his 
mother.  The  major  declined  to  yield,  and  stuck  to 
his  text.  The  result  was,  that  Tommy,  in  his  rage, 
ran  away  in  the  dead  of  winter,  and  was  not  found 
for  two  whole  days,  during  Avhich  time  he  lived  on 
the  fat  of  the  land  at  the  Ilitaca  House,  whither  he 
liad  gone  in  the  steamer.  He  refused  to  go  home 
till  his  father  promised  to  discharge  the  obnoxious 
servant,  declaring  that  ho  would  not  live  in  the  same 
house    with   the    woman,    and    threatening  to  go  to 


140  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

New  York  and  sliip  as  a  common  sailor.  TJndoubt- 
edly  it  would  have  been  better  for  the  young  gentle- 
man if  he  had  shipped  as  a  common  sailor,  for  in 
that  capacity  he  would  have  ascertained  how  much 
of  his  own  way  he  could  enjoy.  His  father  yielded, 
and  Tommy,  having  conquered  in  this  instance,  had 
no  trouble  in  maintaining  his  suj^remacy.  The  ma- 
jor was  afraid  he  would  run  away,  or  do  some  other 
terrible  thing;  and  the  man  who  was  the  lord  and 
master  of  all  Middleport  was  the  slave  of  his  tyran- 
nical son.  This  is  not  the  only  instance  on  record  of 
the  same  thing. 

I  supposed  Major  Toppleton  would  take  some 
steps  to  prevent  a  quarrel  between  the  rival  students, 
but  he  did  not.  It  was  a  delicate  and  difficult  mat- 
ter to  interfere  with  Tommy ;  and  the  fact  that  I 
had  been  sent  back  proved  that  he  would  not  sub- 
mit to  any  dictation,  or  even  suggestion. 

"I  am  rather  glad  you  have  come  back,  Wolf^" 
said  the  great  man ;  and  I  saw  that  "he  was  trying 
to  conceal  his  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  students. 
"I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Hitaca,  inform- 
ing me   that  my  new  yacht  is  finished,  and   I  was 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  141 

on  my  way  to  the  wharf  to  find  some  one  to  send 
after  her.  I  liave  been  told  that  you  are  a  boatman 
as  well  as  an   engineer,  "Wolf." 

"I  have  handled  all  sorts  of  boats  on  the  lake. 
I  used  to  sail  the  Marian  on  the  other  side;  and 
she  is  the  largest  boat  in  this  j)art  of  the  lake,"  I 
replied. 

"But  she  is  not  more  than  half  as  large  as  the 
Grace." 

"  The  Grace  ! "  I  exclaimed,  delighted  with  the 
name. 

"  She  is  called  after  my  daughter.  Do  you  think 
you  can  handle  her?" 

"I  know  I    can,  sir." 

"  She  is  thirty-five  feet  long,  and  measures  fifteen 
tons.  She  has  a  cabin  large  enough  to  accommo- 
date half  a  dozen  persons." 

"I  should  like  to  bring  her  down  first  rate,"  I 
addef],  glancing  at  Skotchley ;  and  I  saw  by  his 
looks  that  he  would  like  to  accompany  me. 

"If  you  think  you  can  manage  her,  you  may  go. 
You  Avill   want  two  or  three  hands  to  help   you." 

"I  will   find  them,  sir." 


142  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"  You  must  take  the  steamer  up  the  lake  as  soon 
as  she  goes.  I  will  write  an  order  on  the  builder 
to  deliver  the  boat  to  you;  call  at  my  house  for  it 
before  you  start." 

I  was  delighted  with  this  mission,  for  I  had  a 
taste  for  boats  almost  as  strong  as  that  for  a  steam- 
engine.  I  was  fond  of  the  water,  and  should  have 
preferred  a  situation  in  a  steamer  to  anything  else. 
Skotchley  was  as  much  pleased  as  I  was  with  the 
cruise  in  prospect;  and,  after  I  had  told  my  mother 
where  I  was  going,  we  called  at  the  major's  for  the 
order.  He  gave  me  some  money  to  pay  the  ex- 
penses, and,  w^ith  two  of  my  friends,  we  embarked 
in  the  steamer  for  Ilitaca,  where  we  arrived  at  half 
past  four.  Near  the  steamer's  wharf,  up  the  river, 
I  saw  a  beautiful  yacht,  which  I  at  once  concluded 
was  the  Grace ;  and  she  was  worthy  of  her  name, 
if  anything  made  of  wood  and  iron  could  be  equal 
to  such  an  honor. 

I  presented  my  order  to  the  builder,  who  was  in 
doubt  about  delivering  it  to  me,  whom  he  stigma- 
tized as  a  boy;  but  when  I  informed  him  that  I 
was  the    engineer  of  the    Lake    Shore   Railroad,  he 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  143 

made  no  further  objection.  He  did  me  the  honor 
to  say  that  he  had  heard  of  me,  and  that  he  had 
ridden  in  the  dummy  from  Middleport  to  Spangle- 
port.  I  was  not  a  little  astonished  to  find  that  my 
fome  had  travelled  so  far  as  Hitaca ;  but  it  appeared 
that  everybody  in  the  vicinity  knew  all  about  the 
quarrel  between  the  two  sides  of  the  lake. 

The  Grace  was  moored  in  a  basin  of  the  river, 
and  the  builder  put  my  party  on  board  of  her  in  a 
skiff.  She  was  .a  magnificent  boat,  far  exceeding  any- 
thing of  the  kind  I  had  seen,  or  even  dreamed  of. 
She  was  sloop-rigged,  painted  black  outside,  and 
white  on  deck.  But  her  cabin  was  the  i)iincipal  at- 
traction to  me,  and  I  hastened  below  to  inspect  it. 
It  was  finished  and  furnished  in  a  style  equal  to  tlie 
major's  house,  with  two  little  state-rooms,  and  a  little 
cuddy  forward,  with  a  cook-stove  in  it.  I  was  as- 
tonislied  and  delighted,  and  would  gladly  h.ave  re- 
signed ray  situation  as  engineer  for  a  position  on 
this  beautiful  crafl. 

I  sent  Tom  Walton  and  Joe  Poole  up  to  a  store 
to  purchase  a  list  of  groceries  and  provisions  which 
I  liad  made  out,  with  Skotcliley's  assistance,  on  board 


144  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OK 

of  the  steamer;  for  we  should  need  some  supper, 
and  perhaps  breakfast,  before  we  could  reach  Mid- 
dleport.  While  they  were  gone,  Skotchley  and  I 
devoted  ourselves  to  a  new  examination  of  the 
wonders  of  the  Grace.  The  builder  was  pleased 
with  my  enthusiasm,  and  the  warm  praise  both  of 
us  bestowed  upon  his  work.  He  opened  all  the 
lockers,  and  explained  everything  about  the  yacht, 
from  the  keel   to   the  mast-head. 

"When  will  that  railroad  be  done?"  asked  the 
builder,  after  we  had  exhausted  the  Grace,  cabin, 
deck,  and  rigging. 

"  In  a  month  or  two,"  I  replied  ;  and  I  could  not 
fail  to  observe  the  sly  twinkle  in  his    eye. 

"They  say  Major  Toppleton  has  bought  up  both 
the  steamers,  and  intends  to  run  them,  in  connection 
with  the  railroad,  only  from  Middleport  to  Hitaca." 

"I  have  heard  so;  but  I  know  nothing  about  it." 

"Do  you  see  that  steamer?"  he  added,  pointing 
to  a  vessel,  which  had  just  been  launched. 

"  I  see  her.  Is  that  the  new  one  Colonel  Wim- 
pleton  is  building?"  I  asked,  with  no  little  curi- 
osity. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  145 

"  That's  the  boat,  and  if  I  mistake  not  she  will 
give  your  road  a  hard  run." 

"I  should  like  to  see  her,"  I  continued. 

The  builder  kindly  conducted  me  all  over  her. 
Everything  about  her  was  first-class  work,  and  I 
confess  that  I  rather  envied  the  Wimpletonians  the 
possession  of  such  a  steamer.  They  were  just  build- 
ing her  cabins  and  upper  works,  and  I  saw  that 
she  was  to  be  far  ahead  of  anything  on  the  lake. 

"I  suppose  there  will  be  some  lively  competition 
when  this  boat  is  finished,"  said  I,  as  we  left  the 
steamer.     "But  I  hope  it  will  be  good-natured." 

"  The  boat  has  rather  the  advantage  of  you," 
added  the  builder.  "If  the  major  will  build  a 
bridge  over  the  river  at  Ucayga,  he  will  win  the 
day.  As  it  is,  the  steamer  will  have  the  weather- 
gage." 

It  was  hardly  prudent  for  me  to  think  so,  for  I 
was  to  run  the  "Lightning  Express"  in  opposition 
to  the  new  boat.  But  our  provisions  had  arrived, 
and  just  then  I  was  more  interested  in  the  cruise 
of  the  Grace  than  in  the  trips  of  the  new  steamer. 
Skotchley  and  I  went  on  board.  As  the  river  below 
10 


146  LIGHTNING  EXPKESS,   OR 

Hitaca  was  naiTow,  and  the  navigation  difficult,  the 
builder,  with  some  of  his  men,  assisted  us  to  work 
her  out  into  the  open  lake.  The  wind  was  tolera'. 
bly  fresh  from  the  westward,  and  as  soon  as  the 
men  had  left  us,  I  took  the  helm,  and  headed  the 
Grace  for  Middleport.  The  yacht  was  a  furious 
sailer,  and  she  tore  through  the  water  at  a  rapid 
rate. 

"I  rather  like  this,"  said  Skotchley,  as  he  seated 
himself  at  my  side. 

"So  do  I,"  I  replied.  "I  wish  the  major  would 
make  me  skipper  of  this  boat,  and  let  some  one  else 
run  the  locomotive." 

"I  don't  want  anything  better  than  this  for  my 
vacation.  I  should  like  to  spend  the  week  in  her, 
cruising  up  and  down  the  lake." 

"Perhaps  you  can.  The  major  is  going  a  fishing 
in  her,  I  heard  him  say.  Very  likely  he  will  let 
you  have  a  berth  in  her" 

"I'm  afraid  not.  Tommy  will  spoil  all  my  chances 
of  anything  good  for  this  term,"  added  the  digni- 
fied student,  shaking  his  head. 

^  I  think  the  fellows  on  the  Horse  Shoe  are  likely 


THE   EIVAI    ACADKAtlES.  147 

to  bring  Tommy  to  his  senses  before  tb(!y  get 
through  with  him.  They  have  liim  there  alone, 
and  I  don't  think  they  will  let  him  have  his  own 
way  all  the  time.  At  any  rate,  they  began  as 
though  they  would  not." 

"If  I  were  in  Tommy's  boots,  I  should  try  to 
make  the  fellows  love  instead  of  hate  me.  He  is 
smart,  and  can  make  himself  very  agreeable  Avhen 
he  isn't  ugly.  In  my  opinion,  there  will  be  a  big 
row  on  the  Hoi'se  Shoe,  even  without  any  help  from 
the  Wimps.  Tommy  is  jjlucky,  and  I  am  not  sure 
that  it  will  not  be  a  good  thing  for  him  if  the 
"Wimps  attack  his  camp.  His  position  is  a  litlle  like 
that  of  some  king  I  have  read  of,  who  got  up  a  foi*' 
cign  war  to  save  himself  from  being  tipped  off  the 
throne   by  his  own  subjects." 

"  Supper  is  ready,"  said  Tom  Walton,  who  attend- 
ed to  the  culinary  department  of  the  Grace,  having 
had  some  experience  in  the  art  of  cooking.  "  Shall  I 
take  the  helm,  Avhile  you  go  down?" 

I  was  very  happy  to  have  him  do  so,  for  Tom 
was  a  good  boatman,  Avhich  was  the  particular  reason 
why  I  had  invited  him  to  be  one  of  the  party.     Wo 


148  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

went  clown  into  the  cabin,  where  the  table  was  set 
for  us.  It  was  neatly  and  tastily  arranged.  The 
viands  consisted  of  beefsteak,  potatoes,  milk  toast, 
and  coffee;  and  I  must  do  Tom  the  justice  to  say 
that  they  tasted  as  good  as  they  looked.  Certainly 
I  never  felt  happier  than  when  I  sat  down  to  that 
supj^er.  Tliere  was  something  decidedly  marine  in 
the  surroundings.  The  fresh  breeze  created  quite  a 
sea  for  an  inland  lake,  and  the  Grace  tossed  up  and 
down  just  enough  to  make  her  seem  like  a  vessel. 

"Wolf!  Wolf!"  shouted  Tom  Walton,  at  the 
helm,  just  as  I  was  taking  my  second  cup  of  coffee; 
for  I  did  not  expect  to  sleep  much  that  night. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  I  demanded,  springing  into 
the  standing-room,  fearful  that  some  calamity  im- 
pended over  the  beautiful  yacht. 

"  There's  some  one  calling  to  us  from  over  there," 
he  replied,  highly  excited,  as  he  pointed  towards 
the  eastern  shore.  "There  he  is!  It's  a  man  in  a 
boat,  or  on  a  raft." 

"  Help !  Help  ! "  cried  the  person,  in  a  voice 
tt'hich  sounded  strangely  familiar  to  me. 

"  Let  out  the  main  sheet,  Tom.    We  will  run  over 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  149 

and  see  what  the  matter  is,"  I  replied,  taking  the 
helm. 

In  a  few  moments  the  Grace  swept  round  into 
the  wind,  under  the  lee  of  the  person  who  had 
appealed  to  us  for  aid.  He  was  on  a  kind  of  raft, 
sitting  upon  the  wet  planks,  over  which  the  waves 
flowed  freely.  I  ran  the  bow  of  the  yacht  up  to 
his  frail  crafl,  to  which  the  sufferer  was  clinging 
witli  both  hands.  Giving  the  helm  to  Tom,  I  rushed 
forward  to  help  the  man,  whose  face  presented  a 
most  woe-begone  aspect. 

My  astonishment  may  be  surmised  when  I  recog- 
nized in  this  person  Colonel  "Wimpleton! 


150  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,  OB 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

IF   THINE   ENEMY    HUNGER. 

AS  soon  as  the  Grace  came  within  reach  of 
Colonel  Wimpleton,  on  the  raft,  he  improved 
his  oj^portunity.  Grasping  the  bob-stay,  he  made 
his  way  on  board,  with  my  assistance.  He  was 
so  clumsy  and  terrified  that  without  my  helj)  he 
would  certainly  have  fallen  overboard.  He  plumped 
upon  the  deck  on  all  fours,  in  a  most  undignified 
attitude  for  the  magnate  of  Centreport.  I  helped 
him  to  rise.  In  doing  so,  I  discovered  that  his 
breath  was  very  odorous  of  liquor,  which  seemed 
to  do  something  towards  explaining  the  unfortu- 
nate plight  in  which  we  had  found  him.  He  was 
not  intoxicated  at  the  time  he  was  pulled  on  board 
the  Grace ;  but  perhaps  he  had  had  time  to  work 
off  the  effects  of  the  potions  whose  incense  still 
lingered   about  him. 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  151 

"  "Wolf  Penuiman ! "  exclaimed  he,  as  he  gi'asped 
one  of  the  fore-stays,  and,  steadying  himself  with 
it,  gazed  into  my  face  ;  and  his  expression  seemed 
to  indicate  that  he  would  rather  have  been  rescued 
by  any  other  person  than  by  me. 

"  Colonel  "Wimpleton ! "  I  replied,  returning  his 
compliment. 

"Is  it  you.  Wolf?"  he  added,  as  if  unwilling 
to  believe  the  evidence  of  his  own  eyes. 

"Yes,  sir;  it  is  I.  Bat  if  you  feel  bad  about  it, 
you  can  return  to  the  raft." 

He  glanced  at  the  little  staging  of  three  planks 
on  which  he  had  made  his  involuntary  cruise,  and 
shuddered  as  he  did  so,  partly  with  cold,  and  partly 
with  dread. 

"I  will  pay  you  well  for  whatever  you  do  for 
me,  "Wolf,"  said  he,  glancing  doubtfully  at  the  boat, 
and  then  at  me. 

"  Let  me  tell  you  in  the  beginning.  Colonel  Wim- 
pleton, that  you  can't  pay  me  the  first  red  cent," 
I  replied,  with  proper  spirit. 

"You  won't  turn  me  adrift  again  —  will  you?" 

"Xo,  sir;  I  will  do  anything  I  can  for  you." 


152  LIGnxXING   EXPRESS,   OR 

""We  have  not  been  very  good  friends  lately." 

"No,  sir;  but  that  shall  not  prevent  me  from 
assisting  you  to  any  extent  within  my  power. 
What    shall   I   do   for   you,   sir?" 

"  I  am  very  cold  and  numb,"  said  he,  curling  up 
with  the  chills  that  swept  through  his  frame. 

"  Come  into  the  cabin,  sir.  I  think  we  can  warm 
and  dry  you  so  tliat  you  will  be  quite  comfortable." 

"  Thank  you,  Wolf; "  and  I  think  this  was  the 
first  time  he  had  ever  used  a  gracious  word  to  me. 

Tom  Walton  had  put  the  helm  up,  and  the  yacht 
filled  away  on  her  course  again.  I  took  Colonel 
Wimpleton's  arm,  and  conducted  him  to  the  cabin. 
The  fire  was  still  burning  in  the  little  cook-room, 
and  shutting  down  the  hatch  on  the  deck,  I  soon 
made  the  place  so  hot  that  it  almost  melted  me. 
Seating  my  distinguished  guest  before  the  stove,  I 
gave  him  a  mug  of  hot  cofiee,  though,  before  he 
drank  it,  he  asked  me  if  there  was  any  brandy  on 
board.  I  told  him  we  had  none,  and  he  contented 
himself  with  the  coffee,  which  was  quite  as  beneficial. 

Under  my  mild  treatment,  the  patient  gradually 
recovered  the   use   of   his   limbs.     I   went   on   deck, 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEl^rrES.  153 

and  sent  Tom  down  to  give  him  some  supper;  and 
our  zealous  cook  provided  him  a  fresh  beefsteak, 
coffee,  and  toast,  wliich  Tom  said  he  ate  just  as 
thoufifh  he  had  been  a  common  man.  It  was  now 
quite  dark,  and  we  were  off  Southport,  on  the  east 
shore.  The  wind  had  subsided,  and  we  were  not 
likely  to  reach  Middleport  before  morning.  I  gave 
Tom  the  helm  again,  and  went  below  to  inquire 
into  the  colonel's  condition.  He  was  still  wet,  and 
was  fearful  that  his  exposure  would  bring  on  the 
rheumatic  fever,  to  which  he  was  liable.  I  sug- 
gested to  him  that  he  should  go  to  bed,  and  have 
his  clothes  dried.  For  such  a  man  as  he  was,  he 
was  very  pliable  and  lamb-like. 

I  conducted  him  to  one  of  the  little  state-rooms, 
which  contained  a  wide  berth.  I  put  all  the  blan- 
kets on  board  upon  the  bed,  and  the  colonel,  taking 
ofi"  all  his  clothes,  buried  himself  in  them.  I  tucked 
him  up,  and  he  declared  that  he  felt  quite  com- 
fortable. Hanging  up  all  his  garments  in  the  cook- 
room,  I  filled  the  stove  with  wood,  assured  they 
would  soon  dry  in  the  intense  heat  of  the  apait- 
nicnt. 


154  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"  Can  I  do  anytliing  more  for  you,  colonel  ? "  1 
asked,  returning  to  his  room. 

"No,  thank  you.  Wolf;  I  am  very  comfortable 
now,"  he  replied  from  the  mass  of  blankets  and 
quilts  which  covered  him. 

"Where  do  you  wish  to  go,  sir?" 

"Home!  Home!"  he  answered  with  energy. 

"We  are  bound  for  Middleport,  su*,  and  we  wiU 
land  you  as  soon  as  we  arrive." 

"Thank  you,  Wolf.  I  feel  like  a  new  man  now. 
I  was  sure  I  should  be  drowned.  I  had  been  on 
that  raft  over  three  hours." 

"  Indeed,  sir !  It  was  a  very  uncomfortable 
craft." 

"The  lake  was  very  rough,  and  the  vs^aves  washed 
over  me  every  minute.  I  gave  myself  up  for  lost. 
I  suffered  all  that  a  man  could  endure  in  those 
three  hours,"  said  he,  shuddering  as  he  thought  of 
his  unpleasant  voyage. 

Probably,  accustomed  as  he  was  to  luxury  and 
ease,  he  had  had  a  hard  time  of  it;  but  a  man  in- 
ured to  work  and  weather  would  not  have  suffered 
half  so  much  as  he  did ;  though,  chilled  and  terrified 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  155 

as  he  was,  I  did  wonder  that  he  had  not  been 
washed  from  his  raft,  to  perish  in  the  deep  waters 
beneath  him. 

"I  am  very  glad  we  happened  to  come  along  as 
we  did,"  I  added. 

"It  was  fortunate  for  me,  Wolf.  I  will  give  you 
a  thousand  dollars  for  the  service  you  have  ren- 
dered me  as  soon  as  I  get  home." 

"Excuse  me,  sir;  but  I  cannot  take  anything," 
I  replied,  warmly. 

"Why  not,  Wolf?" 

"Because  I  should  despise  myself  if  I  took  any- 
thing. There  are  some  things  in  this  world  that 
cannot  be  paid  for  with  money." 

"You  are  a  strange  boy,  Wolf." 

"Perhaps  I  am;  but  I  think  too  much  of  myself 
to  take  money  for  doing  a  kindness  to  any  one  in 
distress." 

"Veiy  likely  I  can  do  something  else  for  you." 

"I  don't  require  anything  to  be  done  for  me, 
Colonel  Wimpleton,"  I  persisted. 

"If  you  have  been  up  to  Ilitaca,  probably  you 
have  Been  the  steamer  I  am  building  there." 


15G  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OB 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  saw  her ;  and  a  very  fine  boat  she 
will  be." 

"I  shall  want  an  engineer  for  her,"  he  suggested. 

"Of  course  you  will,  sir.  An  engineer  is  a  ne- 
cessity in  a  steamer,"  I  replied ;  but  I  refused  to 
bite  at  the  bait  he  threw  out  to  me. 

"Are  you  the  captain  of  this  boat.  Wolf?"  he 
asked,  glancing  round  at  the  pleasant  little  state- 
room in  which  he  was  lying. 

"  For  the  present  I  am." 

"Whose  boat  is  it?" 

"  Major  Toppleton's." 

"  I  saw  her  at  the  yard  in  Hitaca ;  but  I  had  no 
idea  she  was  so  large  and  fine,  as  she  lay  in  the 
river." 

"  She  is  just  finished,  and  the  major  sent  me  u]) 
to  bring  her  down  to  Middleport.  I  don't  suppose 
I  shall  go  in  her  again,  for  I  belong  on  the  railroad." 

"  I  know  you  do,"  he  replied ;  and  his  tone  seemed 
to  indicate  that,  at  that  moment,  he  was  sorry  I  did. 

I  did  not  care  to  discuss  the  relations  of  the  two 
sides  of  the  lake  with  him,  and  I  turned  his  atten- 
tion from  the  subject  by  asking  what  I  could  do 
for  him. 


THE   KIVAL   ACADEMIES.  157 

« I  do  not  need  anything  more,  Wolf.  I  am  warm 
and  comfortable,  and  I  am  very  much  obliged  to 
you  for  what  you  have  done.  Did  you  know  who 
it  was  when  you  saw  me  on  the  raft  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir;  I  recognized  you  when  the  boat  came 
up  to  the  raft." 

"You  did?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  certainly  I  did." 

"Were  you  not  tempted  to  let  me  remain  where 
I  was?"  he  asked,  raising  his  head  on  the  bed,  so 
as  to  see  my  face. 

"No,  sir,  I  was  not." 

"I  should  think  you  would  have  been." 

«  Why,  I  am  not  a  heathen.  Colonel  Wimpleton ! " 
I  replied. 

"  No ;  we  have  had  considerable  trouble,  ahd  I 
suppose  you  have  no  reason  to  think  very  kindly 
of  me,"  stammered  he,  as  though  the  words  almost 
choked  him. 

"I  don't  think  you  used  me  just  right,  sir;  but 
I'm  not  an  Indian." 

"I  think  I  should  have  perished  in  half  an  hour 
more.      It   was    getting   dark,   and   I   was   as   numb 


158  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

as  tliough  I  had  been  frozen.  But  I  shall  make 
it  all  right  somehow,  Wolf." 

"It  is  all  rio-ht  now." 

"  Did  you  see  anything  of  Dr.  Pomford  as  you 
came  up  the  lake  ?  " 

"  Dr.  Pomford  ?     I  don't  know  him,  sir." 

"I  suppose  not.  He  is  from  Philadelphia,  and 
is  spending  a  Aveek  with  me.  He  is  fond  of  fish- 
ing, and  we  came  up  here  to  try  our  luck." 

"  But  how  came  you  on  that  raft,  sir  ?  "  I  inquired. 
"  Did  you  lose  your  friend  overboard  ?  " 

"  No ;  we  had  a  boat,  which  we  fastened  to  the 
raft  on  the  fishing-ground.  We  found  the  raft 
there,  moored  with  stakes  in  the  deep  water.  Dr. 
Pomford  had  the  misfortune  to  drop  his  bottle  of 
brandy  overboard,  after  we  had  been  fishing  about 
an  hour.  Being  quite  chilly,  he  went  back  to  the 
hotel  after  some  more,  leaving  me  on  the  raft,  for 
the  fish  were  biting  well,  and  I  did  not  like  to 
leave  them ;  besides,  he  is  a  younger  man  than  I 
am,  and  can  move  about  easier.  His  boat  was 
fastened  to  one  of  the  stakes,  and  I  think,  when 
he   started,  he    must    have    pulled    it   up.      I   don't 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  159 

know  how  it  happened,  but  as  soon  as  the  doctor 
was  out  of  sight  behind  the  chfF,  I  found  myself 
adrift." 

It  was  not  polite  for  me  to  say  anything;  but 
I  could  not  help  thinking,  that  if  the  brandy  bottle 
had  dropped  overboard  sooner,  the  colonel  would 
have  understood  the  matter  better.  I  had  never 
heard  that  the  great  man  was  in  the  habit  of 
drinkinsr  too  much :  but  the  odor  of  his  breath 
led  me  to  my  conclusion.  I  think  he  was  some- 
what fuddled,  or  he  would  have  gone  with  the 
doctor  in  the  boat. 

"  I  never  sufiered  so  much  in  three  hours  before 
in  my  life,"  continued  the  colonel.  "No  canal 
boat,  steamer,  or  other  craft  came  near  me,  and 
I  cried  for  help  till  my  voice  gave  out.  Wolf,  I 
would  have  given  half  my  fortune,  if  not  the  whole 
of  it,  to  have  been  taken  from  that  raft  a  moment 
bofure  you  saw  me.  If  I  had  known  you  were  in 
cliarge  of  the  boat,  I  should  not  have  expected 
you  to  save  me." 

"My  mother  always  taught  me  to  love  my  ent» 
mies,"  I  answered. 


160  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"  I  bear  the  ministers  talk  about  sucb  tbings, 
but  I  never  believed  mucb  in  tbem.  I  am  under 
very  great  obligations  to  you,  Wolf.  You  have 
treated  me  as  well  as  though  I  had  always  been 
your  best  friend." 

"  It  is  all  riglit,  sir.     I  am  satisfied,  if  you  are." 

"  I  am  not  satisfied ;  and  I  shall  never  be  sat- 
isfied until  I  have  made  you  some  return  for  all 
this." 

, "  I   shall  not  take  anything,  sir,"  I   replied,  reso- 
lutely. 

"I  will  give  you  a  man's  wages,  if  you  will  take 
the  place  as  engineer  of  the  new  steamer." 

"  Thank  you  for  the  offer,  Colonel  Wimpleton ; 
but  I  cannot  accept  it  at  present.  I  never  desert 
my  friends  till  they  kick  me," 

"  That  is  as  much  as  to  say  that  I  kicked  you 
before  you  left  Centreport." 

"I  think  we  had  better  bury  the  past." 

"I  will  make  it  all  right  with  your  father;  he 
shall  have  better  wages  than  he  has  now." 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  sir ;  but  we  are 
both  of  us  very  well  satisfied  where  we  are." 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEM:IES.  161 

The  great  man  seemed  to  be  intensely  annoyed 
at  my  obstinacy ;  and  it  certainly  was  a  hard  case 
for  him  that  he  was  not  permitted  even  to  do  me 
a  favor.  My  pride  would  not  permit  me  to  accept 
a  gift  from  one  who  had  treated  me  so  badly  as 
he  had ;  but  it  was  a  pleasure  to  serve  him,  to 
heap  the  fiery  coals  of  kindness  upon  his  head. 

As  I  had  feared,  the  wind  died  out  entirely, 
and  the  Grace  lay  helpless  uj^on  the  smooth  sur- 
face of  the  lake.  But  below,  everything  was  cheer- 
ful—  even  Colonel  Wimpleton.  The  lamps  burned 
brightly  in  the  cabin  and  state-room,  and  I  en- 
joyed myself  hugely,  not  caring  whether  the  wind 
blew  or  not.  I  gave  the  great  man  his  under- 
clothing when  it  was  dry,  and  he  put  it  on.  He 
wanted  to  talk,  and  he  did  talk  in  his  bed  till 
nearly  midniglit,  when  a  breeze  from  the  south- 
ward sprang  up,  which  compelled  me  to  take  my 
place  at  the  helm.  The  wind  freshencti,  and  tho 
Grace  flew  before  it,  so  that  we  came  to  anchor 
at  two  o'clock  off  Major  Toppleton's  mansion. 
11 


162  LIGHTiSIXG    EXniESS,  OE 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

COLONEL   WIMPLETON   BIDS   HIGH. 

DURING  the  run  of  twenty  miles  down  the 
lake,  I  had  sat  alone  at  the  helm  the  greater 
portion  of  the  time,  for  my  companions  were  dis- 
posed to  sleep.  Colonel  Wimpleton  snored  so  that 
I  could  hear  him  in  the  standing-room.  Skotchley 
had  turned  in,  occupying  the  port  state-room,  while 
Tom  Walton  lay  on  a  locker,  whei-e  I  could  call 
liim  in  a  moment  if  his  services  were  needed. 
"While  I  sat  there  I  did  a  great  deal  of  heavy  think- 
ing, mostly  over  the  relations  of  Toppleton  and 
Wimpleton.  When  that  magnificent  steamer  was 
completed,  there  woidd  be  lively  times  on  tlie  lake. 
The  oifer  which  Colonel  Wimpleton  had  made 
me  of  the  position  of  engineer  on  board  the  new 
steamer  was  very  tempting  to  me,  and  I  wished 
very   much   that   I   could   honorably    accept   it ;    but 


THE   RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  163 

it  was  no  use  to  think  about  it.  Whatever  might 
be  said  of  Major  Tommy,  his  father  had  invariably 
treated  me  very  handsomely.  He  had  come  to  my 
fatlier's  assistance  at  a  time,  when  he  needed  help, 
and  had  actually  put  over  two  thousand  dollars  into 
his  pocket.  I  ftlt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  endure  a 
creat  deal  from  the  son  for  the  sake  of  the  father, 
as,  it  now  appeared,  the  former  was  the  chief  man 
of  the  two. 

As  we  approached  Middleport,  I  called  Tom  Wal- 
ton, and,  Avith  as  little  noise  as  possible,  anchored 
the  Grace.  It  was  a  moonlight  night,  and  since 
the  wiud  had  come  up  from  the  southward,  the 
weather  was  warm  and  i)leasant.  The  sleepers  be- 
low had  not  been  disturbed ;  but,  after  Tom  and  I 
had  made  everything  snug  on  deck,  I  waked  Colo- 
nel Wimpleton,  and  told  him  where  we  Avere.  I 
offered  to  row  him  across  the  lake  in  the  little 
tender  of  the  Grace. 

"Thank  you.  Wolf.  I  will  get  up  at  once,"  said 
be.     "What  time  is  it?" 

"About  half  past  two,  sir?" 

"  I  have  slept  well.  I  had  no  idea  of  getting  homo 
to-uight." 


164  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

"  We  are  at  ancbor  off  Major  Toppleton's  house." 

"  Then  I  tbhik  I  had  better  leave  as  soon  as 
possible.  I  hope  the  major  won't  punish  you  for 
what  you  have  done  for  me." 

"  I  don't  think  he  will.  We  get  along  very  well 
together,  sir." 

"Better  than  you  did  with  me,  I  suppose,"  re- 
plied he,  with  a  grim  smile.  "  But  I  never  knew 
you  before,  Wolf.  It  would  be  different  if  you 
should   come    over   to    Centreport   again." 

"  I  will  have  the  boat  ready  in  a  few  moments," 
I   replied,   wishing   to   change    the   subject. 

I  carried  the  colonel's  clothing  to  him.  It  had 
been  nicely  dried,  and  in  a  few  moments  he  appeared 
on  deck,  I  could  hardly  believe  he  was  the  Colonel 
Wirapleton  who  had  been  so  unjust,  not  to  say  sav- 
age, towards  me.  He  was  a  lamb  now,  and  I  was 
very  willing  to  believe  that  his  three  hours  of  peril 
Iiad  done  him  a  great  deal  of  good,  though  I  was 
afraid  the  impression  would  be  removed  when  he 
returned  to  his  usual  associations.  I  helped  tlie 
great  man  into  the  boat,   and   pushed  off. 

"Have    you    thought    of   the    offer   that    I    made 


THE   KIVAL    ACADEMIES.  165 

yon,  Wolf?"  said  the  colonel,  as  I  gave  way  at  the 
oars. 

"  It  is  nseless  for  me  to  think  of  it,  sir.  I  cannot 
leave  Major  Toppleton  while  he  wishes  me  to  stay 
"with  him." 

"  But  I  offer  you  double  your  present  wages." 

"The  major  has  been  very  kind  to  me,  and  was 
a  good  friend  to  our  family  when  we  needed  a 
friend.  It  would  not  be  right  for  me  to  leave  him, 
and  I  cannot  think  of  such   a  thing." 

The  magnate  of  Centreport  seemed  to  me  to  be 
more  nettled  by  my  refusal  than  I  thought  the  occa- 
sion required.  But  I  enjoyed  a  certain  triumph  in 
finding  him  thus  teasing  me  to  return  to  his  side  of 
the  lake  —  a  triumph  which  Avas  none  the  less  grate- 
ful because  I  had  won  it  by  kindness.  The  colonel 
was  silent  for  a  few  moments,  hitching  about  in  tlie 
boat  as  though  the  seat  was  not  comfortable. 

"How  old  are  you,  "NYolf?"  he  asked,  with  sud- 
den energy. 

"  Sixteen  in  July,  sir." 

"  I  have  one  more  offer  to  make  you,"  he  added. 

"It  won't  do  any  good.  Colonel  Wimpleton  ;   for, 


166  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OE 

as  I  have  said,  I  never  desert  my  friends  while 
they  use  me  well.  If  you  would  fill  this  boat  up 
with  gold,  it  wouldn't  make  any  difference  with 
me,"  I  replied,  rather  warmly. 

"Don't  be  obstinate,  Wolf." 

"I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you,  sir,  for  your 
kind  offer,  and  I  would  accept  it  if  I  could." 

"You  shall  be  captain  of  the  new  steamer,  and 
have  two  dollars  a  day  for  your  services.  You 
will  have  a  nice  state-room  in  the  boat,  and  nothing 
to  do  but  superintend  the  management  of  her,  I 
find  you  are  very  popular,  not  with  the  boys  alone, 
but  with  the  men  and  women,  and  it  is  for  my 
interest  to  have  you  on  the  steamer." 

"I  thank  you  very  much,  sir;  but  I  cannot  leave 
my  present  place." 

"Think  of  it,  "Wolf;  and  talk  the  matter  over 
with  your  father.  If  you  like,  he  shall .  be  the  engi- 
neer of  the  steamei-." 

"  I  thought  the  boat  was  to  be  managed  by  boys." 

"But  I  can't  trust  every  boy  in  the  engine-room. 
If  I  can't  get  you  as  engineer,  I  must  have  a  man." 

"I    should    be   very   glad    to   take    either   of  the 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  167 

places  you  offer  mo,  but  I  cannot,  sir.  Major  Top- 
pleton  has  done  the  handsome  thing  for  me  and  for 
my  father,  and  I  think  you  would  despise  me  if  I 
turned  against  him." 

He  continued  to  press  the  matter  with  so  much 
earnestness  that  I  came  to  think  I  was  of  a  great 
deal  more  importance  in  the  world  than  I  really 
was.  But  I  was  steadflist  in  my  allegiance  to  the 
friend  who  had  served  our  flimily  when  we  were  in 
distress.  I  pulled  the  boat  up  to  the  steps  in  front 
of  the  colonel's  house,  and  assisted  him  to  get  out. 
lie   invited   me  to  go   in   with    him,  but   I  declined. 

"Now,  "Wolf,  I'm  not  going  to  let  this  affair  pass 
off  without  doing  something  for  you.  I  feel  that 
you  liave  saved  my  life,"  said  he,  as  I  seated  my- 
self at   the  oars. 

"It's  all  right  as  it   is,  sir." 

"  No,  it  isn't.     You  will  hear  from  me  again  soon." 

I  gave  way  at  the  oars,  and  he  walked  towards 
his  house.  I  had  conquered  him,  and  it  was  cer- 
tainly very  remarkable  that  I  had,  at  tliis  moment, 
both  the  mighty  men  as  my  friends,  though  my 
relations  with  Tommy  Toppleton  threatened  to  make 


168  LIGHTNING   EXPKESS,   OB 


a  breach  with  one  of  them.  I  felt  that  I  had  car- 
ried out  tlie  spirit  of  my  mother's  instructions,  and 
I  ought  not  to  be  blamed  for  thinking  very  kindly 
of  myself,  because  I  had  discharged  my  Christian 
duty  to  one  who  had  taught  rae  to  be  his  enemy. 
In  this  frame  of  mind  I  pulled  back  to  the  Grace, 
and  leaped  upon  deck. 

"What  have  you  been  doing.  Wolf?"  demanded  a 
Btern  voice,  as  a  tall  form  emerged  from  the   cabin. 

WheAV !  It  was  Major  TojDplcton !  I  could  not 
imagine  what  had  brought  him  out  of  his  bed  at 
that  unseasonable  hour;  and  I  Avas  speechless  with 
astonishment. 

"  What  have  you  been  doing,  Wolf?  "  repeated  he ; 
and  I  saw  that  all  hands  had  been  called. 

"  I  have  just  landed  Colonel  Wimj^leton  at  his 
house,  sir,"  I  replied,  with  due  deference. 

"  And  you  have  been  entertaining  my  greatest 
enemy  in  my  yacht  —  have  you?"  added  the  major, 
in  a  tone  which  seemed  to  threaten  the  pleasant 
relations   that  had  thus   far  subsisted  between   us. 

"I  picked  him  up  on  the  lake,  when  he  was  per- 
ishing with  the  cold,  and  in  danger  of  being  drowned." 


TWE   HTYAL   ACADEMFES.  169 

"I  don't  object  to  your  picking  him  up  when  he 
needed  help.  One  must  do  that  for  a  dog.  But 
why  didn't  you  put  him  ashore  at  the  nearest  land 
—  in  the  woods  or  on  the   rocks  ? " 

"  Because  he  was  so  benumbed  with  cold  that  he 
was  nearly  helpless." 

"  You  gave  him  a  supper  at  my  expense ;  you 
could  not  have  used  me  any  better  in  my  own  yacht 
than  you  did  him." 

"I  did  everything  I  could  for  him,  sir,"  I  replied, 
humbly. 

"You  did  —  did  you?  Didn't  you  know  that  he 
is  a  scoundrel  ?  that  he  is  my  bitterest  enemy  ? " 
demanded  the  major,  warmly. 

"  I  did,  sir ;  but  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  take 
care  of  him  when  he  was  sufFerino:." 

"  Fiddledy-dee !  What  do  you  mean  by  talking 
such  bosh  as  that  to  me?  I  believe  you  have  a 
sofl  place  in  your  head.  Wolf.  Joe  Poole  says  you 
treated  him  like  a  lord.  I  don't  keep  a  yacht  for 
the  accommodation  of  Wimpleton,  If  you  mean  to 
sell  out  to  the   other  side,  do  so  at  once." 

"  I   have  no   such    intention ; "  and    I  was   on  the 


170  LIGHTNING    EXmESS,   OR 

point  of  defending  myself  by  saying  that  the  colonel 
had  made  me  several  handsome  oiFers,  which  I  had 
declined ;  but  I  concluded  such  a  defence  would  do 
me  no  good,  and  only  irritate  the  major. 

"  Of  course  I  should  not  expect  you  to  let  even 
Wimpleton  drown ;  but  you  have  overdone  the 
thing;  you  ought  to  have  put  him  ashore  at  South- 
port,  or  Port  Gunga." 

"  He  wanted  to  come  home,  sir." 

"No  matter  if  he  did;  I  don't  keep  a  yacht  for 
his  use." 

"  I  am  sorry  I  have  offended  you,  sir,"  I  added ; 
but  I  could  not  regret  what  I   had  done. 

"Don't  do  it  again.  The  less  you  do  for  the  other 
side,  the  better  you  will  suit  me,"  he  continued, 
more  gently,  evidently  because  his  anger  had  ex- 
pended itself,  rather  than  because  he  accepted  my 
apology.     How  did  you  get  along  with  the  boat?" 

"First  rate,  sir." 

"Wolf,  I  have  been  uneasy  all  night  about  those 
boys  on  the  island.  I  have  been  afraid  the  Wimple- 
ton scoundrels  would  tear  up  the  railroad  track,  and 
I  have  kept  the  dummy  going  every  hour  since  dark. 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  171 

I  am  tired  out.  I  am  afraid  they  will  have  a  fight 
up  at  the  Horse  Shoe,  and  somebody  will  get  killed. 
Vm  going  to  bed  now;  but  I  want  you  to  run  up 
there,  and  have  an  eye  upon  the  boys.  You  need 
not  go  very  near  the  island,  but  be  sure  you  know 
what  the  students  are  about.  The  Wimpleton  boys 
have  camped  on  the  Shooter,  and  the  two  sides  are 
not  more  than  forty  rods  apart.  If  things  go  wrong 
there,  you  will  run  over  to  Grass  Springs,  and  send 
me  word  by  Lewis   Holgate." 

Having  delivered  his  instructions,  Joe  Poole  land- 
ed the  major  before  his  house.  With  the  assistance 
of  Skotchley  and  Tom  Walton,  I  hoisted  the  main- 
sail and  got  up  the  anchor.  When  Joe  returned, 
both  of  my  companions  "pitched  into"  him  for  tell- 
ing the  major  that  I  had  treated  his  enemy  "like 
a  lord." 

"I  only  told  the  truth,"  replied  Joe.  "But  I 
didn't  mean  to  do  Wolf  any  harm." 

"Didn't  you  know  any  better?"  added  Tom. 

"  I  thought  I  was  doing  a  good  thing  for  Wolf, 
when  I  said  that  he  had  treated  the  colonel  so 
well,  after  he  Lad  used  him  so  shabbily." 


172  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OK 

"  Humph,  you  are  a  Sunday  school  scholar ! " 
sneered  Tom, 

"  So  am  I,  Tom,"  I  interposed,  "  I  don't  blame 
Joe  for  telling  only  the  truth,  and  I  should  have 
told  the  major  myself  if  he  had  not," 

Tliis  remark  quieted  the  sneerer,  and  I  think  that 
Sunday  school  doctrine  had  the  better  of  the  argu- 
ment. Tom  run  up  the  jib,  and,  passing  through 
the  Narrows,  I  lieaded  the  Grace  for  the  Horse 
Shoe.  Tom  had  slept  three  or  four  hours,  while  I 
had  not  yet  closed  my  eyes,  I  gave  him  the  helm, 
and  directing  him  to  call  me  when  we  came  up 
with  the  islands,  I  stretched  myself  on  the  cush- 
ioned locker,  and  dropped  asleeiD. 

The  day  was  dawning  when  the  helmsman  called 
me,  I  had  not  slept  more  than  an  hour  and  a  half; 
but  my  interest  in  the  mission  upon  which  I  had 
been  sent  thoroughly  roused  me,  I  took  the  helm, 
and  going  to  the  eastward  of  the  South  Shoe,  I 
headed  the  Grace  through  the  narrow  channel  be- 
tween the  Horse  Shoe  and  the  Shooter,  which  would 
enable  me  to  obtain  a  fair  view  of  both  camps.  Major 
Toppleton's  fears  were  not  groundless,  for  I  found 


THE    KIVAL    ACADEMIES.  173 

that  the  WImpletonians  had  not  devoted  the  night 
to  sleep,  as  the  Toppletonians  evidently  had,  for  the 
foimer  had  just  effected  a  landing  on  the  northern 
part  of  the  Horse  Shoe.  As  the  Grace  passed  out 
of  the  channel,  I  saw  the  bateaux,  loaded  with  tents 
and  baggage,  landing  their  freight. 
A  battle  impended. 


174  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OB 


CPIAPTER  XV. 

THE   IMPENDING   BATTLE. 

I  CERTAINLY  did  not  expect  to  find  anything 
at  the  Horse  Shoe  or  in  its  vicinity,  so  early 
in  the  morning,  to  indicate  a  battle,  or  even  a 
change  of  j^osition.  Men  engaged  in  a  holy  cause, 
or  in  realizing  the  promptings  of  ambition,  may 
fight  all  day  on  the  bloody  field,  and  then  look 
out  for  the  chances  of  another  day  during  the 
darkness  of  the  night ;  but  boys  do  not  do  so, 
as  a  general  rule.  The  Wimpletouians  had  evi- 
dently done  something  besides  sleeping  during  the 
night.  Dissatisfied  vi^ith  the  proceedings  of  the 
first  day,  they  were  determined  to  make  a  better 
show  the  second  day. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Toppletonians  aj^peared 
to  be  fast  asleep,  without  even  a  guard  to  protect 
or    warn    them    of   the     apj^roach    of   their    enemy. 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEillES.  175 

Before  daylij^lit  the  Centreport  battalion  had  been 
transported  from  the  Shooter  to  the  Horse  Shoe, 
and  were  now  in  position  to  give  battle  to  their 
haughty  foe  —  if  either  was  more  haughty  than 
the  other.  I  saw  them  on  the  shore,  landing  the 
last  of  their  baggage,  and  securing  their  boats  in 
a  little  cove.  On  the  highest  part  of  the  island 
I  could  distinguish,  in  the  gloom  of  the  early 
morning,  a  line  of  sentinels  stretching  entirely 
across   the   land. 

Before  the  Grace  was  clear  of  tlie  island,  Skotch- 
ley,  who  had  made  a  good  night's  rest  of  it,  came 
on  deck,  and  I  pointed  out  to  him  the  change 
which  the  "Wimpletonians  had  made. 

"Wliat  do  you  think  of  it,  Skotchley?"  I  asked. 

"  I  think  there  will  be  au  awful  row  before  noon," 
he  replied,  shaking  his  head.  "  Of  course  tlie 
Wimps  haven't  gone  over  there  for  nothing," 

"  I  don't  know  but  it  would  be  the  best  thing 
in  the  world  to  let  them  figlit  it  out.  If  one  side 
or  tlie  other  should  get  thoroughly  thrashed,  per- 
haps both  would  be  willing  to  keep  the  peace," 

"I    think     not;     for    of    course     the    vanquished 


176  LIGUTNING   EXPKESS,    OE 

party  would  never  be  satisfied  till  it  had  retrieved 
its  fortunes." 

"Wlieu  do  you  think  the  fight  will  commence?" 

"I  should  say  it  is  liable  to  begin  at  any  mo- 
ment," added  Skotchley ;  "but  I  sljall  not  expect 
it  for  several  hours  after  our  fellows  find  out  that 
their  territory  has  been  invaded." 

"  Can  we  do  anything  to  prevent  the  fight  ? "  I 
asked,  earnestly. 

"I  do  not  see  that  we  can,"  answered  Skotchley. 
"  What  can'  W'e  do  ?  You  know  what  Tommy  is. 
If  we  should  attempt  to  reason  with  him,  he  would 
flare  up." 

"  I  don't  mean  to  reason  with  him ;  that  would 
be  stupid." 

"  Of  course  we  can't  do  anything  with  "Waddie." 

"All  we  have  to  do  is  to  inform  Major  Topple- 
ton  of  the  state  of  affairs  on  the  island,"  I  replied, 
as  I  put  the  helm  down,  and  told  Tom  Walton  to 
haul  in  the  sheets  till  the  yacht  was  close  on  the 
wind.  "  We  shall  get  to  Middleport  with  this 
breeze  before  the  dummy  starts.'' 

It    was    only    four    o'clock    in   the    morning,   and 


THE   EIVAi   ACADEillES.  177 

though  we  had  to  beat  up  to  our  destination,  1 
was  confident  the  Grace  would  do  it  in  a  couple 
of  hours.  I  had  not  had  quite  rest  enough  to 
make  me  feel  good,  and  giving  the  helm  to  Tom, 
I  lay  down  again,  I  was  soon  asleep,  and  tho 
two  hours  of  rest  which  I  obtained  set  me  right. 

"Middleport    ahoy!"     shouted    Tom,    as    we    ap- 
proached our  destination. 

"What  time  is  it,  Tom?" 

"  Six  o'clock.    This  yacht  makes  quick  time  of  it." 

"  Where  is  Joe  Poole  ?  " 

"He   has  just   turned   out,   and   is  getting  break- 
fast." 

"That's  sensible,"  I  replied,  going  on  deck.     "Clear 
away  the  anchor,  and  stand  by  the  jib-halyards." 

In  a  few  moments  more,  the  Grace  was  at  an- 
chor in  the  deep  water  off  the  major's  house.  The 
great  man  was  still  asleep;  but  it  would  be  neces- 
sary to  wake  him.  The  belligerents  on  the  island 
would  soon  be  punching  each  other  with  their 
bayonets  if  sometlung  was  not  done.  But  I  could 
not  help  feeling  that  the  presence  of  Major  Top- 
pleton  at  the  scene  of  action  would  hardly  better 
12 


178  LIGHTNING   EXrEESS,    OB 

the  situation.  Ho  was  as  violent,  arbitrary,  and 
exacting  as  his  son.  It  was  possible  that  he  might 
do  something  to  give  the  victory  to  the  partisans 
of  his  own  side;  but  it  was  hardly  to  be  expected 
that  he  would  prevent  the  fight.    "^ 

"  Skotchley,  will  you  go  ashore  and  call  upon 
the  major?  You  have  only  to  tell  him  that  the 
Wimps  have  landed  on  the  Horse  Shoe,"  said  I  to 
the  dignified  student. 

"I  don't  object;  but  why  don't  you  go?"  he 
replied. 

"I  wish  to  go  somewhere  else." 

"Where?"   he  asked,  curiously. 

"  I  will  tell  you  some  other  time,  jDerlwips." 

"Just  as  you  like.  Wolf." 

I  pulled  uj)  the  tender,  and  both  of  us  got  into 
it.  I  rowed  to  the  steps  in  front  of  the  major's 
house,  and  landed  Skotchley.  I  had  made  up  my 
mind  what  to  do,  and  I  had  but  little  time  to 
carry  out  my  jDurpose.  I  felt  in  duty  bound  to 
prevent  the  fight  on  the  island,  if  I  could,  even 
independently  of  the  mighty  will  and  pleasure  of 
Major   Toppletou.     It   was   wicked    to   permit   those 


TUE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  179 

boys,  armed  with  deadly  weapons,  and  imtated  by 
a  long-standing  rivalry,  to  plunge  into  a  strife  which 
might  become  more  serious  than  either  party  in- 
tended. 

"Mr.   Wolf!"    called    the    sweet   voice    of   Grace 
Toppleton,  just  as  I  was  about  to  push  off  the  boat. 

I  was  sorry  to  meet  even  her  at  such  a  moment, 
great  as  the  luxury  would  have  been  on  an  ordi- 
,  nary  occasion.  She  tripped  lightly  down  the  walK 
to  the  landing-steps ;  and  certainly  she  never  looked 
prettier  and  more  graceful  than  on  that  pleasant 
summer  morning,  with  the  fresh  dew,  as  it  were, 
glowing  upon  her  cheeks. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Wolf,"  she  continued,  as,  out 
of  breath  with  tlie  haste  she  had  made,  she  pre- 
sented herself  before  me.  "  That  beautiful  yacht ! " 
she  exclaimed,  as  she  glanced  at  the  elegant  craft 
which  bore  her  name.  "  Isn't  she  a  sylph  ! " 
•  "  She  is  all  she  seems  to  be,"  I  replied,  with  be- 
coming enthusiasm,  "  and  I  think  she  is  worthy  of 
her  name." 

"IIow    very    gallant    you    arc,    Mr.  Wolf!"    she 
pouted. 


180  '  LIGHTNING   EXPBESS,   OR 

"  I  have  been  sailing  her  all  night,  and  I  ought 
to  speak  well  of  her." 

"  Father  said  he  had  sent  you  to  Hitaca  after 
her ;  hut  we  did  not  expect  to  see  you  till  this 
afternoon.  I  want  to  go  on  board  of  her.  I  was 
60  surjjrised  when  I  first  saw  her  this  morning!" 

It  was  very  awkward,  but  I  could  not  help  my- 
self. I  had  a  mission  to  j^erform  which  must  be 
done  at  once,  or  not  at  all.  I  could  not  disregard 
her  wishes,  and  I  assisted  her  into  the  boat. 

"I  have  been  up  to  the  Horse  Shoe,  where  the 
students  are  encamped,  since  I  returned  from  Hita- 
ca," I  continued,  as  I  seated  myself  at  the  oars. 

"  I  supj)ose  they  are  having  a  nice  time  up  there," 
she  replied. 

"I'm  afraid  not;"  and  as  briefly  as  I  could,  I 
told  her  the  situation  of  afiairs  between  the  con- 
tending forces. 

As  I  hoj^ed  and  expected  of  one  of  her  gentle 
nature,  she  was  shocked  and  alarmed  at  the  pros- 
pect of  a  fight,  especially  as  her  brother  was  fore- 
most in  the  strife. 

"  Skotchley  has  gone  up  to  call  your  father,  and 
I  suppose  he  will  interfere,"  I  added. 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  181 

"  I  hope  he  Avill ; "  but  the  manner  in  which  she 
spoke  seemed  to  indicate  that  she  entertained  the 
same  doubt  which  had  disturbed  my  calculation. 

"I  was  thinking  of  doing  something  more,"  I  re- 
plied, rather  doubtfully. 

"  What,  Mr.  Wolf?  " 

I  related  to  her  my  adventure  with  Colonel  Wim- 
pleton  during  the  night,  and  assured  her  that  the 
great  man  of  Centreport  was  very  thankl'ul  to  me 
for  the  service  I  had  rendered  him. 

"  I  was  going  over  to  see  him,"  I  added. 

"To  see  Colonel  Wimpleton!"  she  exclaimed, 
as  though  she  thought  such  a  step  would  be  the 
sum  of  all  abominations,  for  even  she  could  not 
wholly  escape  the  pestilent  rivalry  that  existed  be- 
tween the  two  sides. 

"  I  am  not  afraiil  of  him.  If  I  can  induce  him 
to  compel  the  students  from  his  side  to  leave  the 
Horse  Shoe,  the  fight  will  be  avoided." 

"  I  am  soiTy  you  said  anything  to  me  about  it, 
for  father  will  not  let  you  speak  to  Colonel  Wim- 
pleton about  the  matter.  But,  Mr.  Wolf,  you  do 
as  you  think  best,  and  I  will  not  say  a  word." 


182  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,  OB 

I  assisted  her  on  board  of  the  yacht,  and  Tom 
Walton  was  as  polite  to  her  as  her  beauty  and  her 
position  required.  I  was  sorry  to  leave  her;  but  I 
was  intent  upon  the  duty  of  preventing  the  fight. 
I  pulled  over  to  the  other  side  of  the  lake. 
Haughty  servants  told  me  the  magnate  of  Cen- 
trepoit  was  asleep,  and  must  not  be  disturbed ; 
but  one  who  had  seen  me  there  in  the  night  with 
the  colonel,  ventured  to  tell  him  that  I  wished  to 
see  him.  I  was  promptly  admitted  to  his  bedroom, 
where  I  stated  my  business. 

"I  don't  think  there  is  any  great  danger  of  a 
quarrel,"  said  he,  after  he  had  listened  attentively 
to  my  story. 

"I  think  there  is,  sir.  The  students  from  this 
side  have  landed  on  the  Horse  Shoe." 

"Well,  our  boys  have  always  used  that  island  for 
their  camp," 

"  But  the  Toppleton  students  engaged  the  Horse 
Shoe  of  the  owner,  and  you  will  agree  with  me 
that  they  have  the  best  right  to  the  ground.  If 
you  will  direct  the  boys  from  this  side  to  ler.ve 
the  island,  there  will  be  no  further  trouble." 


THE   EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  183 

"Do  you  think  I  shall  tell  our  boys  to  run  away 
from  those  on  the  other  side?"  deniancled  he,  in- 
dignantly. "I  am  wiUing  to  do  anything  for  you, 
Wolf,  after  what  has  happened ;  but  I  think  you 
need  not  concern  yourself  about  this  affair." 

"  I  don't  want  to  have  a  fight,  sir." 

"Xor  I  either." 

"  Then  I  hope  you  -will  do  the  right  thing,  and 
Bend  your  boys  off  the  island." 

"I  will  not  do  it." 

"Well,  sir,  suppose  "Waddie  should  get  punched, 
with  a  bayonet  ?  "  I  suggested. 

"  I  think  Waddie  can  take  care  of  himself.  But, 
undei*stand  me,  Wolf,  if  I  can  do  anything  for  you, 
I  will  do  it." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  ask  but  this." 

"  I  will  see  what  can  be  done,"  he  replied,  rub- 
bing his  head,  which  I  judged  was  still  suffering 
from  the  effects  of  the  brandy  from  the  bottle  that 
had  been  lost  overboard.  "  I  don't  want  any  fight- 
ing. I  will  go  up  to  the  Horse  Slioe  by  and  by, 
if  I  feel  able." 

I  pressed  the  matter  as  strongly  as  I  could ;  but 


184  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OR 

the  stupid  rivah-y  was  too  strong  in  his  mind  to 
permit  anything  which  looked  like  yielding.  I  left 
him,  hoping  that  the  peril  of  Waddie,  if  no  higher 
consideration,  might  induce  him  to  take  some  active 
steps  to  avert  the  disgraceful  alternative.  I  pulled 
with  all  ray  might  across  the  lake,  and  I  was  not 
a  moment  too  soon,  for  I  had  hardly  jumped  upon 
deck  before  Major  Toppleton  appeared  on  the  shore, 
and  hailed  the  yacht  for  a  boat.  Taking  Grace  with 
me,  I  pulled  to  the  steps.  The  great  man  had  his 
overcoat  on  his  arm,  and  it  was  evident  that  he  in- 
tended to  be  a  passenger  in  the  yacht  to  the  scene 
of  action. 

"  Let  me  go  too,  father,"  said  Grace.  "  I  must 
sail  in  that  beautiful  yacht  this  very  day." 

"We  cannot  wait,"  replied  the  major,  rather  pet- 
ulantly. 

"I  don't  want  you  to  wait.  I  am  all  ready,"  she 
added. 

"If  there  is  going  to  be  a  fight  up  there,  you 
will  be  in  the  way." 

"  I  will  stay  in  the  yacht.  Don't  say  no ;  be  a 
good  papa." 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  185 

And  he  was  a  good  papa.  Miss  Grace  was  per- 
mitted to  liave  lier  own  Avay,  though,  being  hke 
her  mother,  who  was  a  very  amiable  and  gentle 
lady,  having  her  own  way  did  not  seem  to  injure 
her,  as  it  did  her  brother.  I  need  not  say  that  I 
was  delighted  with  the  arrangement.  We  got  up 
the  anchor,  hoisted  the  jib,  and  in  a  few  moments 
were  standing  down  the  lake  before  the  fresh  breeze. 
On  the  way  Joe  Poole  served  up  breakfast  in  good 
style,  and  even  the  major  declared  that  the  beef- 
steak and  fried  potatoes  were  excellent. 

"  The  row  has  commenced  ! "  shouted  Tom  "Wal- 
ton, at  the  helm,  while  we  were  at  the  table. 

Fortunately  our  appetites  had  been  satisfied  be- 
fore this  startling  announcement  was  made,  and  we 
all  hastened  on  deck  to  see  the  fight. 


186  LIGUTNING   EXPEESS,   OR 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  BATTLE  OP  THE  HORSE  SHOE. 

MISS  GRACE  TOPPLETON  turned  pale  when 
Tom  announced  that  the  battle  had  com- 
menced ;  but  her  father  only  uttered  an  exclamation 
of  rage  and  impatience.  The  yacht  was  just  enter- 
ing the  narrow  channel  between  the  Horse  Shoe 
and  the  Shooter,  and  our  position  commanded  a  full 
view  of  the  field.  .The  Wimpletonians  had  landed 
on  the  north  side  of  the  island,  near  the  middle  of 
which  was  a  ridge.  The  camp  of  the  Toppletonians 
was  at  the  head  of  the  little  bay  between  the  two 
arms  of  the  Horse  Shoe.  Behind  it  was  a  gentle 
slope  of  ground,  which  terminated  at  the  ridge, 
beyond  which  the  descent  on  the  north  shore  was 
more  abrupt. 

On    this   longer   declivity,   the  two   hostile   battal- 
ions were   drawn   up   in   the   order  of  battle.      The 


THK   KIYAL   ACADEMIES.  187 

statement  that  tlie  conflict  bad  commenced  was  pre- 
mature ;  for,  though  the  two  "  serried  ranks  "  faced 
each  other,  no  bones  had  yet  been  broken.  TIio 
field  presented  the  traditional  aspect  of  boy  figlits 
Avlien  the  contestants  meet  in  force  ;  the  parties  faced 
each  other,  and  eacli  waited  for  the  otlier  to  advance. 
Though  I  was  not  an  impartial  judge,  I  could  not 
help  seeing  that  the  Wimpletonians  had  displayed 
more  generalship  than  the  Toppletonians ;  for,  in- 
stead of  waiting  on  tlie  steeper  descent  at  tlie  norfh 
shore,  with  the  ridge  above  them,  for  an  attack, 
they  had  boldly  mounted  the  hill,  and  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  high  ground,  which  gave  them  an  advan- 
tage that  more  than  compensated  for  their  inferior 
numbers. 

The  Toppletonians  had  not  discovered  the  move- 
ment of  the  enemy  till  they  appeared  upon  the 
ridge,  which  is  another  convincing  jiroof  that  "eter- 
nal vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty."  If  they  had 
kept  even  half  a  dozen  sentinels  in  the  exposed  por- 
tions of  the  island  during  the  night,  they  could 
easily  have  prevented  the  landing  of  the  Wimple- 
tonians; but  jn-obably  they  had  no  suspicion  of  a 
night  movement. 


188  LIGHTNIXG   EXPRESS,   OR 

The  combatants  appeared  to  be  waiting  "  for  some- 
thing to  turn  up ; "  for,  wliile  the  Grace  was  running 
dowu  the  channel  and  coming  to  anchor,  no  move- 
ment was  made  by  either  of  them.  The  array  did 
not  at  present  indicate  the  bloody  encounter  I  had 
feared,  and  had  labored  to  prevent;  but  it  was  plain 
enough  that  something  would  result  from  the  situa- 
tion. They  would  not  be  likely  to  face  each  other 
all  day  without  doing  some  mischief  I  could  see 
Waddie  "VYimpleton,  in  his  chapeau,  white  j^lume, 
and  gold  lace,  promenading  np  and  down  his  lines ; 
and,  though  I  could  not  hear  him,  I  knew  very  well 
what  big  things  he  was  saying. 

"Well,  what's  to  be  done?"  said  Major  Topple- 
ton,  .when  the  Grace  had  come  to  anchor. 

"  If  I  were  you,  sir,  I  would  tell  our  boys  to  go 
back  into  their  camp,"  I  replied. 

"  What !  and  let  the  Wimpleton  students  have  it 
all  their  own  way !  Not  if  I  know  myself,"  added 
the  major,  indignant  even  at  the  suggestion.  "  Our 
boys  have  hired  the  island,  and  it  belongs  to  them. 
They  shall  stay  there  !  " 

The   major  was  as  crazy  as  the  colonel  had  been, 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  189 

and  as  neither  was  willing  to  sacrifice  anything,  1 
could  not  see  how  the  fight  was  to  be  avoided.  Of 
course  none  of  us  had  any  influence  Avith  the  in- 
vaders, and  we  could  not  induce  theiu  to  retire  from 
the  island. 

"  Can't  you  think  of  any  way  to  get  the  Wimple- 
ton  boys  off^  Wolf?"  asked  the  major,  impatiently; 
and  I  saw  that  my  services  were  not  required  as  a 
peacemaker,  but  rather  as  an  active  belligerent. 

"  I  don't  see  any  way  now,  sir,"  I  replied ;  "  but 
I  may  think  of  something  by  and  by." 

"  By  and  by !  They  may  kill  each  other  before 
you  make  up  your  mind,"  sneered  the  great  man. 
*'I  will  go  on  shore." 

I  pulled  up  the  boat  for  him,  and  rowed  him  to 
the  landing-place.  I  walked  up  the  slope  with  him, 
in  order  to  obtain  a  better  view  of  the  situation. 
It  had  already  occurred  to  me  that  a  diversion  in 
llie  rear  of  the  Wimpletonians  might  compel  them 
to  retire;  but,  as  I  was  somewhat  fearful  that  such 
a  step  would  make  them  more  desperate,  an<l  hasten 
the  conflict,  I  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  suggest 
the  idea.     We  were  within    a   few  rods  of  the  Tup- 


190  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,   OE 

pleton  line,  when  Major  Tommy  discovered  us. 
Whether  he  was  ashamed  of  his  inaction,  or  fearful 
that  his  father  would  interfere  with  the  pastime  he 
had  laid  out,  I  do  not  know ;  but  our  coming  evi- 
dently had  some  influence  upon  him,  for  he  imme- 
diately commenced  yelling  as  though  the  battle  was 
to  be  fought   with  loud  words. 

"  Attention  —  battalion  !  "  said  he,  flourishing  his 
sword.     "  Charge  bayonets  ! " 

"  Stop  a  minute,  Tommy !  "  called  Major  Toppleton, 
senior. 

"  Forward  —  march  !  "  added  Major  Tommy,  re- 
gardless of  his  father's  interference. 

"  Hold  on  a  minute,  Tommy  !  "  repeated  his  father. 
"  I  want  to  see  you." 

"Forward  —  march!"  screamed  the  little  major, 
desperately.  "  Xow  give  them  fits !  Don't  mind  a 
scratch  !     Drive  them  before  you  !  " 

"Charge  bayonets!"  cried  Major  Waddie,  on  the 
other  side;  and  it  was  clear  enough  that  ho  did 
not  intend  to  run  away. 

In  vain  did  INlajor  Toppleton  senior  attempt  to 
check   this   forward  movement.      The   Toppletonians 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  191 

dashed  gallantly  up  the  hill,  rushing  upon  the  enemy 
with  an  impetuosity  which  threatened  them  with 
total  annihilation.  But  then  the  Wimj^letonians  be- 
gan to  move  forward ;  and  I  felt  my  heart  rising  up 
into  my  throat,  and  my  blood  growing  cold  in  my 
veins,  as  the  combatants  approached  each  other.  I 
could  almost  hear  the  groans  of  the  wounded,  and 
Bee  the  outstretched  forms  upon  the  green  sod,  so 
real  did  the  scene  appear  to  me. 

The  two  lines  me*,  and  I  heard  the  clatter  of 
cold  steel  as  the  bayonets  struck  against  each  other; 
but  I  had  not  time  to  form  an  exact  idea  of  what 
was  going  on  before  I  saw  the  Toppletonians  give 
way  in  the  centre.  It  was  a  confused  niUee^  and  I 
could  only  see  a  general  punching  and  hammering 
with  the  muskets.  When  I  saw  a  soldier  on  either 
side  make  a  direct  thrust  with  his  bayonet,  it  was 
warded  off  with  a  blow.  Indeed,  tlie  battle  seemed 
to  be  fought  literally  "  at  the  point  of  the  bayo- 
net;" for,  so  far  as  I  could  judge,  neither  party 
went  near  enough  to  do  any  damage.  Each  side 
seemed  to  have  the  requisite  discretion  to  keep  out 
of  the   reach    of  the   weapons  of  the  other  side.      I 


192  LIGHTNtXG   EXPRESS,   OK 

think  there  were  not  many  in  either  rank  that  had 
the  ferocity  actually  to  wound  their  adversaries  with 
the  weapons  in  their  hands. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  affray,  and  the 
contending  forces  had  not  yet  become  desperate ; 
and,  though  they  rushed  uj^on  each  other  with 
appalling  savageness,  as  seen  by  the  observer,  the 
contest  was  at  a  safe  distance,  neither  party  permit- 
ting the  other  to  come  near  enough  actually  'to 
inflict  wounds.  In  fact,  it  was  just  such  fighting  as 
I  had  often  seen  between  parties  of  boys,  and  con- 
sisted in  rushing  up  and  falling  back.  Dangerous 
as  the  weapons  were,  there  was  really  no  blood- 
thirsty spirit  on  either  side. 

The  Toppletonian  centre  was  broken.  Captain 
Bayard  had  been  pressing  things,  and  the  force  in 
front  of  him,  to  avoid  any  actual  punching  of  the  bay- 
onets, fell  back.  Major  Waddie  strode  furiously  up 
and  down  his  line  —  in  the  rear  of  it,  of  course  — 
yelled,  and  stormed,  and  gesticulated.  "When  he  saw 
the  centre  in  front  of  him  give  way,  he  screamed  in 
his  fury,  and  Bayard,  who  seemed  to  have  some  of 
the    spirit    of   his    illustrious    namesake,    forced    liis 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  193 

company  forward  till  some  of  them  were  actually 
pricked  by  the  steel  of  the  Toppletonians.  But 
this  spurring  seemed  only  to  infuriate  them  ;  Wad- 
die  yelled  louder  than  ever,  and  Bayard,  perceiving 
his  advantage,  encouraged  his  soldiers  till  the  line 
before  them  yielded,  and  were  swept  backward 
down  the  hill. 

Captain  Pinkerton,  on  the  right,  inspired  by  the 
success  of  the  centre,  and  goaded  on  by  the  frantic 
yells  and  gestures  of  Major  Waddie,  crowded  his 
company  forward,  and  the  line  in  front  of  him, 
whose  equanimity  was  disturbed  by  the  rupture  of 
tlie  centre,  fell  back  also. 

"  Three  cheers,  and  drive  them  !  "  roared  Major 
Waddie,  hoarsely,  as  his  white  plume  flaunted  in  the 
fresh  breeze. 

Then  the  Wimpletonians  yelled  along  the  whole 
length  of  the  line,  and  rushed  down  the  hill, 
the  demoralized  Toppletonians  fleeing  before  them. 
Major  Toppleton  and  myself  were  obliged  to  retire 
in  order  to  avoid  the  onslaught  of  the  victorious 
battalion. 

"  The  scoundrels  ! "  ejaculated  the  great  man,  who 
1.3 


194  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,   OR 

ai)pearecl  to    be    quite    as    much  disconcerted  as   his 

SOD. 

"  The  Wimps  have  the  best  of  it,"  I  vephed. 

"  This  is  disgraceful !  "  muttered  the  major. 

I  thought  so  myself;  not  the  defeat,  as  he  under- 
stood it,  but  the  battle  itself,  as  I  understood  it. 

Near  the  camp  of  the  Toppletonians  was  a  belt 
of  trees  extending  across  the  island,  into  which  the 
discomfited  battalion  retreated.  The  Wirapletonians 
followed  them  closely,  and  I  was  afraid  the  camp 
and  baggage  of  our  boys  would  be  captured  by  the 
enemy.  In  the  shadow  of  the  grove,  Major  Tommy 
and  his  two  captains  rallied  the  intimidated  Topple- 
tonians, and  they  made  a  stand  under  the  friendly 
shelter  of  the  trees,  the  enemy  halting  at  the  verge 
of  the  grove.  The  great  man  and  myself  hastened 
to  headquarters,  where  we  found  Tommy  breathless 
with  rage  and  excitement  at  his  unexpected  defeat. 
His  father  taunted  him  upon  his  misfortune,  which 
did  not  help  his  fiery  mood. 

"What  could  I  do  when  the  fellows  gave  way?" 
stormed  he.  "  They  are  a  pack  of  cowards,  and 
would  run  a  mile  rather  than  be  pricked  with  the 
jiolnt  of  a  j>in." 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  195 

"It  is  easy  enough  for  you  to  talk,  Tommy  Top- 
pleton,"  snapped  private  Putnam.  "If  you  went  in 
the  front  instead  of  the  rear,  it  would  make  a  dif- 
ference with  you." 

"  I  was  in  the  place  Avhere  a  commander  ought 
to  be,"  retorted  Tommy,  stung  by  this  reproach. 
"  I  will  give  you  enough  of  it  before  you  get 
throuofh." 

"  You  needn't  call  us  cowards  while  you  keep 
yourself  in  a  safe  place,"  added  Putnam. 

"  Attention  —  battalion  !  "  shouted  Major  Tommy, 
suddenly. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  now  ? "  asked  his 
father. 

"  I'm  going  to  drive  the  Wimps  into  the  lake  this 
time." 

"  Wliat's  the  use !  If  you  go  out  of  the  grove, 
you  will  only  be  driven  back,"  replied  the  major, 
senior. 

"Why  don't  you  make  a  flank  movement?"  I 
suggested. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  "  asked  Tommy, 
whose  attention  was  arrested  by  the  idea. 


196  LIUUTXING  EXPKESS,    OR 

"  Send  one  company  round  to  the  other  side  of 
the  Wimps,"  I  replied. 

"  If  I  send  half  my  men  away,  the  Wimps  will 
defeat  the  rest  here." 

"  No  ;  half  your  force  can  hold  this  wood.  If  you 
can  get  one  company  on  the  high  ground,  you  will 
have  the  advantage  over  them." 

Major  Tommy  thought  favorably  of  the  idea ;  and 
I  thought  it  would  be  safer  for  both  parties  to  fight 
the  battle  by  running  and  manoeuvring  than  for 
them  to  make  a  stand-up  conflict  on  the  open  field, 
as  they  had  done.  Briscoe  was  sent  with  his  com- 
pany to  make  the  flank  movement.  He  double- 
quicked  his  command  towards  the  east  shore  of  the 
island,  and  began  to  ascend  the  slope.  Major  Wad- 
die  promptly  "  smelt  a  mice,"  and  despatched  Cap- 
tain Bayard's  company  to  watch  and  check  the 
movements  of  the  flanking  force.  I  went  with 
Briscoe,  intent  upon  using  whatever  influence  I  had 
to  keep  the  parties  from  coming  into  actual  contact 
with  each  other.  We  reached  the  summit  of  the 
slope  by  hard  running,  in  advance  of  Captain  Bay- 
ard ;  and  here  the  Toppleton  company  halted  on  the 
highest  ground  on  the  island. 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  197 

"  Now  you  are  all  right,  Briscoe,"  said  I.  "  Send 
half  a  dozen  fellows  to  demonstrate  against  their 
boats,  and  you  will  get  tliem  out  of  the  way." 

"  You  do  that,  "Wolf,"  replied  he.  "  Go  down,  and 
shove  them  off,  and  I  will  do  the   rest." 

I  ran  down  the  slope  alcne  to  the  landing,  where 
I  found  Colonel  Wimpleton. 


198  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 


CHAPTER  XYII. 


THE    PRISONER    OF    WAR. 


COLONEL  WIMPLETON  was  just  landing  from 
a  boat,  in  which  he  had  been  ferried  over 
from  the  main  sliore,  having  come  from  Centreport 
to  this  point  in  liis  chaise.  As  soon  as  he  landed, 
he  dismissed  the  man  who  had  brought  him  over. 
The  two  great  men  of  the  vicinity  were  both  on  the 
island. 

As  soon  as  I  left  Captain  Briscoe's  company,  and 
moved  towards  the  landing-place,  Bayard,  in  com- 
mand of  the  Wimpleton  company,  evidently  suspect- 
ed my  j3urpose,  though  I  i-eally  had  no  intention  of 
meddling  with  the  boats,  but  only  of  making  a  dem- 
onstration. Half  a  dozen  soldiers  were  sent  in  a 
hurry  to  guard  the  fleet.  This  was  Briscoe's  oppor- 
tunity. The  force  before  him  was  now  reduced  so 
that  an  attack   was   hopeful.     I  heard   him  shouting, 


TUE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  199 

and  a  moment  later  the  company  of  Bayard  came 
helter-skelter  over  the  summit  of  the  hill.  Our 
fellows,  mortified  by  their  first  defeat,  had  made  a 
desperate  charge,  and  diiven  the  enemy  before  them. 
It  was  not  safe,  therefore,  for  me  to  meddle  with  the 
boats,  even  if  I  had  intended  to  do  so. 

"  How  goes  the  battle,  Wolf? "  asked  the  colonel, 
•with   a  smile,  as  I  met  him  on  the  beach. 

"Just  now  it  seems  to  be  going  in  favor  of  Top- 
pleton,"  I  replied ;  "  though  our  boys  were  just 
driven    half  way    across   the    island    by    yours." 

"Well,  that's  good." 

"But  I  can't  stay  here  now,  sir;  I  am  afraid  I 
shall  be  captured,"  I  added,  glancing  at  the  six 
soldiers  who  were  coming  down  the  hill  towards  me. 

"I)ou't  be  alarmed,  Wolf;  I  will  see  that  you 
are  not  hurt,"  laufjhed  the  colonel. 

"I   don't   wish  to   be   captured." 

"You  shall  leave  when  you  please.  After  think- 
ing over  the  matter,  I  concluded  that  I  should  take 
our  boys  off  the  island,"  added  the  great  man  of 
Centrcport;  "but  I  don't  intend  to  have  them  driven 
off." 


200  LIGHTNII^G   EXPEESS,    OB 

"I'm  very  glad  to  hear  it,  sir." 

"Where  is  Waddie?" 

I  explained  the  situation  to  him,  and  informed  him 
of  what  had  already  transpired  on  the  island.  lie 
was  pleased  with  the  victory  wliich  those  who  bore 
his  name  had  achieved,  and  with  this  brilliant  rec- 
ord of  the  Wimpleton  battalion  he  was  ready  to 
retire.  But  while  we  were  talking  about  the  mat- 
ter, the  din  of  battle  from  the  high  ground  saluted 
US.  It  appeared  that  Tommy  Toppleton,  too  impa- 
tient to  wait  for  the  result  of  the  flanking  move- 
ment, had  charged  upon  the  company  of  Wimpleto- 
nians  in  front  of  him.  Our  fellows  had  wiped  out 
the  disgrace  of  the  early  part  of  the  action,  and 
had  driven  the  enemy  up  the  hill,  over  its  summit, 
regaining  all  the  ground  lost,  and  taking  the  sum- 
mit of  the  slope,  which  was  "the  key  to  the  situ- 
ation." 

"This  won't  do,"  said  Colonel  Wimpleton,  as  he 
Baw  with  dismay  that  his  party  was  defeated.  "I 
can't  take  them  away  under  these  circumstances." 

But  the  battle  was  lost  to  the  Wimpletonians. 
Major  Tommy  had  gained  the  crown  of  the  hill,  and 


THE   RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  201 

LelJ  It  with  bis  whole  force.  The  ground  was  so 
steep  in  fi-ont  of  him  that  double  the  number  of  the 
foe  could  not  dislodge  him.  The  enemy  had  not 
yet  pitched  their  tents,  and  their  baggage  was  now 
in  danger  of  capture.  Major  ^Yaddie  consolidated 
his  battahon,  and  formed  a  line  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  ready  to  defend  his  camp  equipage.  He  was 
furious  at  his  defeat,  and  when  he  saw  me  his  eyes 
flashed  fire. 

"Arrest  that  traitor!"  said  he,  flourishing  his 
sword,  and  pointing  to  me. 

"  Not  yet,  Waddie  !  "  interposed  his  father.  "  I 
have  sfiven  him  a  safe  conduct." 

"  You  are  not  in  command  here,"  replied  the  un- 
gracious son.  "  What  are  you  doing  down  here, 
Wolf  Penniman?" 

"  I  should  have  gone  before  if  your  father  had  not 
detained  me." 

"Keep  cool,  Waddie,"  said  the  colonel.  "You 
have   enough   to   do   to   whip   the   Toppletonians." 

"That's  what  I'm  going  to  do,"  added  Major 
Waddie,  as  he  glanced  at  the  summit  of  the 
hill. 


202  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 


"  I  will  take  care  of  Wolf,  and  see  that  he  don't 
whijj  the  whole  of  you." 

"I  will  hang  him  as  a  traitor  if  he  don't  start 
quick.     He  has  no  business  over  here." 

"  He  is  a  non-combatant,"  laughed  the  colonel. 

I  do  not  know  what  the  gallant  commander  of 
the    Wirapleton    battalion    would    have    deemed     it 

* 

necessary  to  do  with  me,  if  the  exigency  of  battle 
had  not  called  his  attention  to  other  matters.  I  do 
not  pretend  to  be  a  brave  fellow,  but  I  am  willing 
to  say  I  was  not  afraid  of  being  hanged,  even  inde- 
pendently of  the  powerful  protection  of  the  colonel. 
Major  Tommy,  flushed  with  his  recent  success,  was 
intent  upon  following  up  his  victory.  I  heard  him 
call  his  battalion  to  the  charge,  and  the  words  in- 
duced my  feathery  persecutor  to  leave  me.  Tommy 
evidently  intended  to  drive  the  enemy  into  the  lake, 
or  to  force  them  to  surrender  on  the  shoie. 

"  Charge  —  bayonets  !  Forward  —  march ! "  yelled 
he;  and  down  came  the  Toppletonians  at  a  furious 
pace. 

"  Now  stand  up  to  it,  fellows  !  "  screamed  Waddie. 


THE   KrVAL   ACADEMIES.  203 

"  This  is  your  last  chance.     Don't  run  if  they  punch 
you  til  rough." 

Not  only  Wadtlie,  but  the  two  captains  in  his 
battalion,  who  had  more  real  influence  than  the  com- 
mander, urged  the  Wirapletonians  to  stand  firm, 
and  not  be  driven  from  their  position.  But  the 
time  fur  argument  was  short.  The  victorious  Top- 
])letonians  swept  down  the  hill,  and  rushed  furiously 
at  the  foe.  This  time  I  am  quite  sure  there  were 
some  wounds  given  on  both  sides.  Major  Tommy, 
mortified,  no  doubt,  by  the  taunts  of  Putnam,  and 
pci-haps  of  others,  did  not  march  in  the  rear  of  his 
column,  but  very  imprudently  placed  himself  in  ad- 
vance of  it.  Fortunately  for  him,  there  were  several 
privates  near  him  who  were  inspired  by  his  gallant 
example,  and  the  centre  of  the  column  broke  through 
the  enemy's  front.  This  would  have  been  a  success 
to  the  Toppletonians  if  the  riglit  and  left  wings  had 
supported  the  movement  with  equal  zeal.  They 
did  not,  and  were  fijrced  back  by  the  desperate 
Wimpletonians,  and  in  a  moment  more  were  retreat- 
ing  n]i  the   hill,   closely  pursued   by  the  enemy. 

When  it  was  too  late,  Tommy  saw  where  he  was. 


204  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

He  was  standing,  supiiorted  by  only  half  a  dozen 
privates,  several  rods  in  advance  of  his  battalion. 
A  squad  of  the  enemy,  led  on  by  Captain  Pinkerton^ 
charged  upon  him.  The  daring  little  major  defend- 
ed himself  Avith  zeal  and  courage,  slashing  right  and 
left  ■with  his  sword.  His  supporters,  seeing  the  situ- 
ation, fell  back  and  joined  their  companions.  Closely 
pressed  by  his  exultant  foe.  Tommy  struck  savage 
blows  against  the  muskets  of  his  asaulters;  but  sud- 
denly his  sword  blade  snapped  ofi'  near  the  hilt. 

"  Capture  him  !  Capture  him  ! "  shouted  Pinker- 
ton  ;  and  sending  part  of  his  squad  behind  Tommy, 
he  cut  off  his  retreat. 

The  gallant  major  was  now  unarmed,  and  incapa- 
ble of  making  any  defence.  His  companions  in 
arms  had  been  forced  back  to  the  summit  of  the 
hill. 

"  Surrender ! "  cried  Pinkerton. 

"Never!"  yelled  Tommy,  with  tragic  grandeur, 
as  he  made  a  dive  at  the  captain,  with  the  inten- 
tion apparently  of  wresting  his  sword    from  him. 

Such  bravery  deserved  a  better  fate ;  but  two  of 
the  pnemy  came   behind    the  impetuous   major,  and, 


THE   KIVAL   ACADEMIES.  205 

grasping  him  hj  the  shoulders,  threw  him  down. 
The  whole  squad  then  fell  upon  him,  and  poor  Tom- 
my was  a  prisoner  of  war.  Two  of  the  stoutest  of 
his  captors,  each  of  them  half  a  head  taller  than  he 
was,  were  detailed  to  guard  the  major,  and  he  was 
marched  to  a  tree  near  the   camp  baggage. 

The  Toppletonians  were  driven  to  the  top  of  the 
hill,  and  resumed  their  position  upon  its  summit. 
It  was  useless  for  the  Wimpletonians  to  attempt  to 
drive  them  beyond  the  ridge,  and  they  returned  to 
their  fomicr  halting-place  on  the  level  ground.  I 
began  to  be  a  little  uneasy  about  the  fate  of  Tommy 
when  Major  Feathers  returned,  for  I  Avas  afraid  the 
latter,  inspired  by  no  lofty  ideas  of  military  honor, 
would  subject  his  prisoner  to  some  indignities.  I 
saw  Waddie  hold  a  conference  with  his  two  captains, 
the  result  of  which  was  soon  apparent.  Captain  Bay- 
ard, attended  by  a  single  private,  who  carried  a  white 
handkerchief  suspended  on  a  pole,  as  a  flag  of  truce, 
walked  up  the  hill.  I  was  not  informed  until  after- 
wards of  the  nature  of  their  mission ;  but,  in  tlie 
opinion  of  the  "Wimpletonians,  the  capture  of  Tommy 
decided  the  lute  of  the  day,  and  thoy  regarded  the 


206  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,    OK 

battle  as  ended,  with  victory  perched  upon  their 
banners.  Major  Waddie  was  graciously  pleased  to 
declare  that  he  did  not  wish  to  pursue  his  conquest 
any  farther,  and  if  the  Toppletonians  would  retire 
from  the  island,  their  commander  should  be  returned 
to  them  unharmed. 

By  the  misfortune  of  Major  Tommy,  Captain 
Briscoe  was  the  ranking  officer,  and  the  message 
of  Major  Waddie  was  delivered  to  him.  By  the  ad- 
vice of  Major  Toppleton,  senior,  the  terms  of  peace 
were  promptly  rejected,  and  an  intimation  given  that 
the  Toppletonians  intended  to  recapture  their  com- 
mander, and  drive  the  invaders  into  the  deep  waters 
of  the  lake.  While  these  negotiations  wei'e  in  prog- 
ress. Colonel  Wimpleton  left  me,  and  went  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  battalion.  Doubtless  he  saw  his 
powerful  rival  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  wished 
to  counteract  the  influence  of  his  counsels  with  his 
own. 

When  the  flag  of  truce  returned,  I  saw  a  private 
run  to  the  tree  where"  Major  Tommy  had  been  se- 
cured with  a  rope  taken  from  one  of  the  boats. 
Then   the   two  stout   fellows  in  charge  of  him  con- 


THE   EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  207 

ducted  him  to  a  boat,  and  pushed  off.  It  was  in- 
tended that  the  commander  of  the  Toppleton  bat- 
talion should  not  be  recaptui-ed,  and  the  threat  of 
his  forces  was  rendered  futile.  But  his  command 
immediately  repeated  the  assault,  when  the  nature 
of  Colonel  Wimpleton's  advice  was  evident.  The 
beach  in  the  rear  of  the  Centreport  battalion  was 
covered  with  small  round  stones,  with  which  the 
soldiers  had  plentifully  supplied  themselves.  The 
onslaught  of  the  Toj^pletonians  was  received  with  a 
volley  of  these  missiles.  They  reeled  under  this  un- 
expected reception,  and  being  on  the  grass  they 
could  not  procure  any  similar  ammunition.  Captain 
Briscoe,  imitating  the  example  of  his  illustrious  com- 
mander, marched  in  front.  The  stones  seemed  to  be 
aimed  at  him,  and  he  actually  fell,  hit  by  one  of 
them.  His  forces,  appalled  at  this  savage  warfare, 
and  by  the  fall  of  their  leader,  halted,  and  then  fell 
back  beyond  the  reach  of  the  mischievous  missiles. 
Briscoe  was  picked  up,  and  borne  to  the  top  of  the 
hill.  The  affair  was  becoming  more  serious,  and,  I 
may  consistently  add,  more  disgraceful,  especially  as 
the    contending    parties  were    now  virtually  directed 


208  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

by  Major  Toppleton  and  Colonel  Wimpleton,  who 
were  old  enough  to  have  known  better. 

It  was  plain  enough  that  our  boys  could  not 
stand  up  against  these  volleys  of  stones,  and  that 
the  Wimpletonians  could  hold  their  ground  for  the 
rest  of  the  week.  The  battle  was  now  to  be  a  mat- 
ter of  strategy  and  manoeuvring.  On  the  hill,  as 
they  saw  Major  Tommy  sent  off  in  the  boat,  they 
concluded  that  he  was  safe  enough  for  the  present, 
and  were  not  disposed  to  accept  any  ignominious 
terms  of  peace.  The  two  fellows  in  charge  of  the 
prisoner  of  war  had  pu^Ued  off  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
ii-om  the  shore,  and  were  watching  the  issue  of  the 
combat.  I  was  curious  to  know  what  would  be  done 
next,  but  I  concluded  to  ojierate  a  little  on  my  own 
account.  Following  the  shore  round  the  island,  I 
reached  the  pier,  and  went  on  board  of  the  yacht. 
Skotchley  and  Grace,  in  the  standing-room,  were 
watching  the  action,  while  Tom  Walton  arid  Joe 
Poole  had  gone  up  to  the  mast-head,  where  they 
could  obtain  a  better  view  of  the  field  of  battle. 

"  All  hands,  unmoor ! "  I  called,  and  my  ready  crew 
descended  to  the  deck. 


THE    EIVAIi    ACADEMIES.  209 

The  mainsail  had  not  been  lowered,  and  we  had 
only  to  get  up  the  anchor  and  hoist  the  jib.  Before 
the  fresh  breeze  we  stood  down  the  channel  towards 
the   boat  in   which    Tommy   was   an   unwilling  pas- 


senger. 


14 


210  LIGHTNING    EXritESS,    OB 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


RESCUING   A   PPaSONEB. 


i^N  the  passage  I  told  Grace  and  Ned  Skotch- 
ley  what  liad  transpired  dnrnig  the  time  I 
liad  been  oa  sliore  -,  and  both  of  them  agreed  with 
me  that  it  was  disgraceful  to  allow  boys  to  fight. 
Grace  even  had  the  courage  to  say  that  her  father 
ought  to  have  compelled  the  Toppletonians  to  leave 
the  island,  rather  than  encourage  such  outrageous 
conduct. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  now?"  asked  Skotch- 
ley. 

"I'm  going  to  recapture  Tommy." 

"I  thought  you  were  a  non-combatant,"  laughed  he. 

"  So  I  am ;  but  I'm  not  going  to  leave  Tommy 
in  the  hands  of  those  fellows.  I'm  afraid  the  Wimps 
will  abuse  him  when  they  have  time  to  attend  to 
his  case." 


THE    niVAL    ACADE:inES.  211 

"Don't  let  tbera  hurt  him,"  pleaded  Grace. 

« I  will  not.  Tommy  is  as  brave  as  a  lion ;  if  he 
had  been  as  prudent  as  "SVaddic,  he  would  not  have 
l)ecn  captured,"  I  replied. 

By  this  time  we  were  within  hail  of  the  boat  in 
which  the  prisoner  of  war  was  held.  His  guards  did 
not  know  the  Grace,  as  she  was  a  new  craft  on  the 
lake,  and  did  not  expect  any  mischief  from  her. 
Tbcy  sat  on  each  side  of  the  vanquished  little 
major,  whose  hands  were  tied  together  so  that  lie 
could  do  no  harm.  I  ran  the  yacht  up  into  the 
wind  so  that  her  bowsprit  was  over  the  boat. 

"What  are  you  about?  You  will  run  into  lis!" 
shouted  one  of  the  sentinels. 

""We  won't  hurt  you,"  replied  Tom  "Walton,  as 
he  hooked  on  to  the  boat. 

I  ran  forward,  and  Tom  and  I  dropped  into  the 
boat,  while  Joe  Poole  held  the  painter,  which  I 
tlircw  up  to  him  to  avoid  accidents. 

"  "Wolf  Pennlman  ! "  exclaimed  Baxter,  one  of 
the  guards,  when  lie  recognized  me.  "  "What  do 
you  want  ?  " 

"I    want   Major   Tommy,"    I    replied,  cutting    that 


212  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OR 

young  gentleman's  fetters,  while  Tom  Walton  stood 
between  me  and  the  astonished  sentinels. 

"  You  can't  have  him  !  He  is  a  prisoner,"  retorted 
Baxter,  picking  up  his  musket. 

"  He  w%as  a  prisoner,  but  he  isn't  now,"  I  added. 
"  You  are  free,  Tommy.  Jump  aboard  as  quick  as 
you  can." 

But  Raymond,  the  sentinel  in  the  bow  of  the 
boat,  presented  his  bayonet,  while  Tom  Walton, 
with  an  oar  in  liis  hand,  Avas  checking  a  forward 
movement  on  the  part  of  Baxter.  It  is  not  easy 
to  walk  over  a  bayonet  in  the  hands  of  a  stout 
fellow  who  has  been  trained  to  use  it  skilfully, 
and  the  prospect  before  me  was  not  very  encour- 
aging. However,  Joe  Poole  turned  the  fortunes 
of  the  day  in  our  favor,  by  fastening  to  the  back 
of  Raymond's  collar  with  the  boat-hook,  and  pull- 
ing him  over  backwards  into  the  bottom  of  the 
boat.  I  seized  his  musket,  and  Avrenchcd  it  from 
his  grasp,  so  that  the  obstacle  to  Major  Tommy's 
escape  was  removed. 

The   little  magnate  was  not  slow  to  avail  himself 
of  his  opportunity,  and  sjtringing  over  the  prostrate 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  213 

form  of  Raymond,  still  pinned  down  by  the  boat- 
hook,  he  leaped  on  board  of  the  yacht.  The  com- 
bat, so  far  as  I  was  concerned,  was  haj^pily  ended, 
and  Tom  "Walton  and  I  made  good  our  retreat, 
which  was  effectually  covered  by  Joe  Poole,  who 
flourished  his  boat-hook  with  a  vigor  that  set  at 
nought  the  paltry  bayonets  of  the  war-worn  vet- 
erans from  whose  gripe  we  had  rescued  the  unfor- 
tunate commander  of  the  Toppleton  forces. 

"Don't  let  them  go!"  shouted  Tommy,  as  1)6 
beheld  the  result  of  the  brief  struggle.  "  Capture 
them ! " 

"  Let  go  the  painter ! "  I  whispered  to  Joe  Poole. 

"  Capture  them ! "  repeated  Tommy,  furiously,  as 
he  saw  the  boat  recede  from  the  yacht. 

"  Hard  a-port  the  helm ! "  I  called  to  Skotchley, 
who  was  in  the  stan din ij- room. 

"  What  are  you  about  ? "  demanded  Tommy,  ai 
I  went  aft  to  take  the  helm. 

"Don't  meddle  with  them,  Mr.  Wolf  —  don't^ 
please!"   interposed  Grace. 

"  Shut  up,  Grace  !  If  you  say  a  Avord,  I'll  throw 
you  overboard,"  said    the    ungallant  major,  who    waa 


214  LIGnTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

unhappily  one  of  those  boys  who  believe  they  may 
say  anything  to  r  sister. 

"  I  came  out  here  after  you,  Tommy,"  I  rejiliecl^ 
indignant  at  the  liarsh  words  the  little  major  had 
addressed  to  Grace.  "I  don't  think  it  is  worth 
while  to  meddle  with  those  fellows." 

"What  do  you  suppose  I  care  what  you  think!" 
cried  Tommy.     "Isn't  this  my  father's  yacht?" 

"It  is  yoiir  father's  yacht." 

"Then  you  will  capture  those  fellows,  or  I  will 
know  the  reason  why,"  he  added,  stoutly. 

"  Don't  touch  them,  Mr.  "Wolf  —  don't,  please," 
said  Grace. 

"Mr.  Wolf!"  sneered  Tommy.  "Mr.  Wolf  will 
do  what  I  tell  him." 

"  I  don't  think  it  is  quite  proper  to  get  into 
a  row  with  a  young  lady  on  board!"  I  added, 
mildly. 

"Wolf  Penniman,  you  are  a  coward  and  a  trai- 
tor!" exclaimed  Tommy,  "And  you  arc  another!" 
he  added,  fixing   his  indignant  gaze  upon  Skotchlcy. 

"Thank  you.  Tommy,"  replied  the  dignified  stu- 
dent, coolly. 


THE   RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  215 

"Tou  shall  be  court-martialed  as  a  deserter  and 
a  coward ! " 

"Well,  I  think  I  can  stand  it." 

]\Lajor  Tommy  glanced  at  the  boat  from  which 
he  had  been  removed,  and  in  which  Win  two  guards 
had  taken  the  oars  and  were  pulling  for  the  shore. 
He  seemed  to  think  that  they  would  add  two  more 
to  the  force  of  the  Wimpletonians,  and  that  it  was 
a  grave  military  indiscretion  to  permit  the  enemy 
thus  to  be  augmented.  Besides,  he  must  liave  his 
own  way,  and  any  opposition  was  quite  enough  to 
rouse  the  evil  spirit  in  his  nature.  He  insisted 
again  that  the  two  guards  should  be  captured.  I 
tried  to  excuse  myself  from  meddling  in  the  war- 
fare, and  Grace  stood  by  me  with  a  zeal  which 
brought  down  the  wrath  of  her.  brother  upon  her. 

"  I  say  that  boat  shall  be  taken,"  persisted  he, 
violently. 

"It  is  impossible,"  I  replied,  weary  of  his  tyran- 
ny.    "  She  is  dead  to  windward  of  us." 

«  Please  don't,  Mr.  Wolf,"  added  Grace. 

"Hold  your  tongue,  Grace!"  snapped  he,  as  ho 
sprang  to  the  tiller,  and  shoved  me  one  side. 


216  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,   OB 

"Don't,  Tommy,"  added  Grace,  placing  her  hand 
upon  his  shoulder  to  deter  him. 

The  little  monster  actually  turned  upon  her,  and 
struck  her  a  blow  in  the  face  which  sent  her  reel- 
ing over  into  her  seat.  I  could  not  stand  that ; 
my  blood  boiled  up,  and  boiled  over.  I  sprang 
upon  him,  and  in  a  small  fraction  of  an  instant, 
Major  Tommy  Toppleton  was  lying  flat  on  the 
floor  of  the  standing-room. 

"O,  don't  touch  him,  Mr.  Wolf!"  begged  Grace. 

"You  villain  you,  how  dare  you  put  your  hand 
upon  me  ? "  gasped  Tommy,  springing  to  his  feet, 
as  savage  as  a  young  tiger. 

"I  don't  like  to  see  any  one  strike  a  yoiing  lady, 
least  of  all  when  she  is  his  sister." 

"  I'll  let  you  know  ! "  whined  he,  crying  with  pas- 
sion, as  he  leaped  uiDon  me. 

"Walton  and  Skotchley  each  grasped  one  of  his 
arms,  and  held  him  so  that  he  was  powerless.  He 
raved,  tore,  and  swore ;  and  it  was  evident  enough 
to  me,  when  my  indignation  subsided,  that  I  bad 
sacrificed  myself,  if  not  my  father  and  the  whela 
family. 


THE    KIVAL    ACADEillES.  217 

«I  -won't  sny  anything  more,  Tommy,"  interposed 
Grace,  terrified  by  the  violence  around  her.  "You 
may  have  your  own  way." 

«Give  me  that  hehn,  Wolf!"  cried  Tommy. 

"I  will  give  it  to  you,"  I  replied,  moving  aside, 
influenced  by  the  action  of  Grace ;  and  I  don't 
know  but  Tommy  would  have  beaten  his  head  to 
jelly  against  the  trunk  if  some  concession  had  not 
been  made  to  his  Avrath. 

He  cooled  oflT  as  rapidly  as  he  had  become  heated, 
when  all  opposition  was  removed.  He  threw  the 
yacht  up  into  the  wind,  and  Tom  Walton  and  I 
trimmed  the  sails ;  but  the  new  helmsman  could 
not  manage  her,  and  she  lay  with  her  sails  flap- 
ping idly  in  the  wind. 

"Ease  her  ofl"  a  little,  Tommy,  and  she  will  go 
it,"  I  ventured  to  suggest. 

"  Mind  your  own  business,  Wolf  Penniman.  Your 
time  is  out  from  this  moment,  and  Grace  shall  never 
j»ut  licr  foot  into  this  yacht  again,  if  it  is  named 
after  lier,"  blustered  Tommy. 

I  subsided,  and  seated  myself  on  tlie  trunk  amid- 
8hip8  to  wait  the  issue.     The  new  skijtpcr,  howev«ry 


218  LIGHTISriNG   EXPRESS,   OB 

adopted  my  suggestion,  though  he  snubbed  me  for 
making  it.  The  Grace,  accommodating  as  she  was, 
would  not  sail  into  tlie  wind's  eye,  and  before  Tom- 
my was  ready  to  tack,  in  beating  up  to  the  chase, 
the  boat  hmded  her  hands  on  the  beach.  I  saw 
that  he  was  vexed ;  but  he  "  chewed  up "  his  wrath. 
He  soon  came  about,  and  headed  for  the  channel 
between  the  Horse  Shoe  and  the  Shooter.  I  con- 
cluded that  he  must  be  anxious  to  join  his  bat- 
talion;  but  it  would  be  impossible  to  beat  the 
yacht  up  the  narrow  passage.  It  was  no  use  for 
me  to  say  anything,  and  I  did  not,  for  he  would 
be  sure  to  go  in  direct  opposition  to  any  sugges- 
tion of  mine. 

lie  ran  the  Grace  iip  to  the  north  point  of  the 
Shooter,  and  came  about.  I  thought  it  my  duty 
to  tell  him  that  the  water  was  very  shoal  ahead 
of  him,  as  he  apjDroached  the  Horse  Shoe  on  this 
tack.  lie  politely  insinuated  that  I  was  to  hold 
my  tongue,  which  I  succeeded  in  doing  for-  a  mo- 
ment longer,  until  the  yacht  grated  on  the  gravel 
bottom,  and  stuck  fist. 

"That's  just  where  I  wanted  her,"  said  Tommy, 
unmoved  by  the  event.     "  Joe  Poole  !  " 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEinES.  219 

Joe  Poole  appeared  before  the  imperious  little 
magnate,  and  was  directed  to  bring  up  the  boat 
and  land  our  uncomfortable  passenger.  Tommy 
jumped  into  the  boat,  and  as  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  stern-sheets,  he  delivered  his  parting  volley  at 
me,  to  the  effect  that,  like  Othello,  my  occupation 
Avas  gone,  and  that  I  should  be  driven  out  of  Mid- 
dlejjort  as  a  coward  and  a  traitor.  To  this  mild 
speech  I  jiermitted  myself  to  make  no  reply. 

"Hurrah!  Hurrah!  Hurrah!"  shouted  the  Topple- 
ton  battalion  on  the  shore. 

This  shout  of  triumph  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  major,  and  he  hurried  up  Joe  Poole,  who  soon 
landed  him  on  the  beach.  On  the  whole,  I  con- 
cluded that  I  had  not  made  much  by  meddling 
with  the  conflict,  even  so  for  as  to  rescue  Tommy 
fiom  his  captors.  During  the  events  which  I  have 
related,  I  had  closely  watched  the  movements  of 
the  contending  forces.  Company  B  of  the  Top2)le- 
ton  battalion  had  been  sent  round  the  island  to 
flank  the  enemy,  and  obtain  a  position  where  stones 
were  available  as  ammunition.  This  operation  had 
been    successful,   and    tlie   Wimpletonians    had    been 


220  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

forced  back  from  their  stronghold,  for  they  could 
not  stand  up  against  volleys  of  stones  any  better 
than  their  rivals.  Company  A  had  dashed  down 
the  hill  at  the  right  time,  and  the  enemy  were 
driven  upon  their  baggage.  This  success  had  drawn 
forth  the  shout  of  triumph. 

Fortunately  for  us  on  board  of  the  Grace,  Tom- 
my had  sailed  her  shaking  in  the  wind,  so  that  she 
had  gone  on  the  shoal  very  gently,  though  hard 
enough  to  give  us  two  hours  of  severe  exertion. 
As  we  Avorked,  moving  balltist  from  the  forward  to 
the  after  part  of  the  yacht,  we  watched  the  move- 
ments of  the  contending  forces.  As  I  anticipated, 
Tommy  ordered  another  charge  as  soon  as  he 
reached  the  battalion,  though  the  Wimpletonians 
were  actually  engaged  in  loading  their  baggage 
into  the  boats.  "We  saw  a  flag  of  truce  hoisted  by 
the  defeated  party,  and  a  parley  took  place,  the 
result  of  which  was,  that  they  ,were  permitted  to 
retire  without  further  molestation.  Long  and  loud 
were  the  cheers  of  Toppleton  when  the  fleet  moved 
away  from  the  island,  and  pulled  towards  the 
Shooter.     The  victors  then  returned  to  their  camp. 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEiTlES.  221 

We  got  tlie  Grace  off  at  last,  and,  after  passing 
around  the  Horse  Shoe,  I  anchored  off  the  pier 
in  the  channel  Major  Toppleton  soon  appeared, 
accompanied  by  Tommy,  and  I  expected  to  be  dis- 
charged at  once. 


222  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A   TYRANNICAL    SON. 

« T    SUPPOSE    my  time    is  out,  Miss  Toppleton," 

_i_  said  I  to  Grace,  as  I  saw  the  big  major  and 
the  Httle  major  approaching  the  pier. 

"  Your  time  out  ?  "  she  replied,  looking  anxiously 
at  me. 

"  I  shall  be  discharged  from  my  situation,  and 
l^erhaps  be  driven  out  of  Middleport." 

"  O,  no !    I  -hope  not,  Mr.  Wolf." 

"  Tommy  is  very  arbitrary,  and  after  what  has 
happened,  he  will  not  permit  me  to  remain  on  the 
same  side  of  the  lake  with  him." 

"  I  am  sorry  you  touched    him,"    said  she,  musing. 

"  I  should  not  have  touched  him  if  he  had  struck 
me.     I  was  indignant  and  angry." 

"Well,  I  don't  blame  you,  Mr.  Wolf,  for  it  is 
abominable  for  a  boy  to  strike  his  sister,"  she  added. 


THE   KIVAL    ACADEMIES.  223 

placing  her  hand  iii>on  her  pretty  flice,  where  her 
brother's  rude  hand  had  left  its  mark.  "But  Tom- 
my rules  the  whole  house  at  home ;  and  I  suppose 
he  will  have  his  own  way  now,  as  he  always  did." 

As  Tommy  got  into  the  boat  which  I  had  sent 
for  him  and  his  father,  I  saw  that  he  was  still  in  a 
very  unamiable  frame  of  mind.  lie  Avas  talking 
loudly  and  indignantly  to  his  father,  who  appeared 
to  be  trvinfj  to  soothe  him  and  moderate  his  wrath. 
For  my  own  part,  I  could  not  regret  what  I  had 
done,  unpleasant  as  the  consequences  promised  to  be. 
It  was  not  in  my  nature  to  stand  by  and  see  a  little 
bully,  like  Tommy,  strike  a  young  lady,  —  not  pat 
her  gently,  but  strike  her  a  heavy  blow,  —  not  even 
if  he  were  her  brother.  I  had  been  tempted  to 
give  the  young  ruffian  the  pounding  which  he  richly 
deserved,  and  to  continue  the  operation  until  he  was 
willing  to  promise  better  things. 

Perhaps  the  handsome  offer  Avliich  Colonel  "Wim- 
jileton  had  made  me  rendered  me  somewhat  moie 
independent  than  I  should  otherwise  have  been.  I 
was  certainly  in  good  condition  to  be  discharged, 
and  did  not  feel  much  like  submitting  to  any  gross 


224  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OE 

inclignitios  from  tlie  great  man  of  Middleport,  or  his 
hopeful  son.  But  Major  Toppleton  had  been  very 
kind  to  me,  and  to  my  father,  and  I  could  not  for- 
get the  service  he  had  rendered  to  us. 

The  boat  came  alongside,  and  Tommy  leaped  upon 
the  deck,  followed  by  his  father ;  and  I  could  not 
help  noticing  that  the  senior  major  looked  very 
anxious  and  uncomfortable.  Tommy  had  doubtless 
been  making  strong  speeches  to  him,  and  it  was 
really  melancholy  to  think  of  a  man  of  his  abilities, 
dignity,  and  influence  reduced  to  a  kind  of  slavery 
by  the  tyranny  of  his  own  son;  and  all  the  more 
melancholy  because  he  could  not  realize  that  he  was 
spoiling  the  boy  by  this  weak  indulgence. 

"  Wolf  Penniman,"  said  the  little  major,  majesti- 
cally, "  I  always  keep  my  promises." 

"  Keep  cool.  Tommy,"  interposed  his  father,  step- 
ping into  the  standing-room,  where  Grace  and  I 
were  seated  alone,  for  Skotchley  and  Tom  Walton 
had  gone  forward. 

"You  know  what  I  said,  father.  I  won't  have 
Wolf  around  me  any  longer.  He  has  been  a  coward 
and  a  traitor,  and  he  had  the  audacity  to  knock  me 


THE   KIVAL   ACADEMIES.  225 


down.    "Wolf  Penniman,  you   are  discharged ! "  con- 
tinued Tommy,  blustering  furiously. 

"  Don't  be  too  fast,  Tommy,"  interposed  bis  father. 
"  "Wolf  went  after  the  boat  in  which  you  were  a 
prisoner,  captured  it,  and  restored  you  to  your  com- 
mand. Captain  Briscoe  told  you  that  he  did  not 
dare  to  make  his  last  move  till  he  saw  that  "Wolf 
had  taken  you  out  of  the  hands  of  the  enemy." 

"I  don't  blame  him  for  that;  but  he  refused  to 
obey  my  orders,  and  then  knocked  me  down.  I 
say  you  may  discharge  him,  or  discharge  me." 

The  alternative  was  a  reminder  of  the  Hitaca  in- 
cident, and  a  hint  that,  if  his  father  did  not  obey 
orders,  Tommy  would  run  away  again,  and  there 
would  be  no  suitable  person  to  inherit  the  great 
man's  millions.  I  made  no  reply,  but  bowed  meekly 
to  my  fate.  It  appeared  that,  after  all,  I  was  not 
to  run  the  Lightning  Express  train,  about  which  so 
much  had  been  said. 

"Don't  let  him  discharge  Mr.  "Wolf,  father,"  in- 
terposed Grace,  her  pretty  cheeks  red  with  indigna- 
tion ;  and  with  such  an  advocate  I  could  ■  ajQTord  to 
be  still. 

15 


226  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OR 

"  Discharge  Mr.  Wolf !  "  sneered  the  little  mag- 
nate. "  Will  you  learn  to  mind  your  own  business, 
Grace?" 

"  He  struck  me  in  the  face,  father,  and  that  was 
the  reason  why  Mr.  Wolf  knocked  him  down.  I  am 
Borry  he  did  so,  but  I  think  Tommy  was  to  blame," 
continued  Grace. 

"You  needn't  stick  up  for  him;  if  you  do,  it 
won't  make  any  difference." 

"I  am  astonished  that  you  should  strike  your 
Bister,"  added  Major  Toppleton,  whose  painful  ex- 
pression fully  proved  his  sincerity. 

"  Well,  you  needn't  be  ! "  replied  Tommy,  rudely 
and  disrespectfully.  "  If  she  don't  mind  her  own 
business,  and  let  my  affairs  alone,  I  shall  teach  her 
better.  I  have  said  all  I  have  to  say,  and  I'm 
going  ashore  to  look  out  for  my  battalion.  Remem- 
ber, Wolf  is  discharged !  " 

Tommy  abruptly  left  the  yacht,  and,  leaping  into 
the  boat,  ordered  Joe  Poole  to  pull  him  ashore. 
The  fiat  had  gone  forth.  I  was  discharged.  Tom- 
my was  the  president  of  the  road,  and  doubtless  he 
had  the  power  to  dismiss  me. 


THE   EITAL   ACADEMIES.  227 

"  Here  is  trouble,"  said  Major  Toppleton,  with  a  sigh. 

"I  hoi^e  you  won't  let  Mr.  Wolf  be  dischargetl," 
saiJ  Grace,  when  the  irate  little  magnate  was  out 
of  heariufj. 

"  What  can  I  do  ?  "  replied  the  major,  impatiently. 
"  Tommy  is  the  president  of  the  road,  and  he  has 
the  right  to  discharge  an  employee.  If  I  interfere, 
there  will  be  such  a  tempest  as  we  had  a  year  ago." 

Poor  magnate  !  How  I  pitied  him  !  Just  as  I 
liad  seen  a  baby  tyrannize  over  its  loving  mother, 
BO  did  Tommy  tyrannize  over  his  father.  The  great 
man  —  how  little  he  seemed  to  be  then! — mused 
for  a  while  over  tlie, unpleasant  situation. 

"  ni  tell  you  what  we  can  do,  Wolf.  I  want 
a  skipper  for  this  boat.  If  you  will  withdraw  from 
the  railroad  for  a  time,  I  will  give  you  this  situa- 
tion, with  the  same  pay  you  are    now  receiving." 

"I  am  entirely  satisfied,  sir,  and  sliall  bo,  what- 
ever you  or  Tommy  may  do,"  I  answered,  meekly. 
"I  certainly  like  the  boat  better  than  the  train; 
but  I  su])pose  Tommy  will  not  permit  me  to  take 
charge  of  her." 

The  major  bit  his  lips  with  vexation.      Ilis  fetters 


228  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OR 

galled  him,  and  he  had  not  the  resolution  to  shake 
them  off,  lie  ordered  me  to  get  the  yacht  under 
way,  and  start  for  Middleport.  As  soon  as  she  was 
clear  of  the  narrow  channel,  the  major  asked  me 
down  into  the  cabin,  and  we  had  a  talk,  which 
lasted  till  the  Grace  came  to  anchor  before  the 
owner's  mansion. 

"You  know  how  I'm  situated.  Wolf,"  said  he, 
turning  his  gaze  from  me,  as  if  ashamed  to  acknowl- 
edge his  subservience  to  the  wilful  boy.  "  Tommy 
must  have  his  own  way ;  he  is  desj^erate  if  he  does 
not.  He  will  run  away,  or  drown  himself  in  the 
lake,  if  he  does  not." 

I  could  not  help  smiling  at  the  infirmity  of  the 
father,  and  he  made  haste  to  defend  himself.  Tom- 
my was  subject  to  fits  when  he  was  a  child,  and  he 
was  fearful  that  irritation  would  bring  on  a  return 
of  the  malady.  The  young  gentleman  had  actually 
threatened  to  commit  suicide  if  he  could  not  have 
his  own  way. 

"  I  only  wish  to  smooth  the  thing  over  for  a  time, 
for  Tommy  is  a  good-hearted  boy,  and  he  will  come 
to    his    senses    if   he    is    not   thwarted,"    added    he. 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  229 

"  Tou  are  not  a  flitlier,  Wolf,  and  you  can't  under- 
stand the  matter." 

"I  am  willing  to  do  whatever  you  desire,  sir,"  I 
replied.  "  Perhaps  I  ought  to  say,  that  I  can  afford 
to  be  discharged  just  now.  You  have  nsed  me 
very  handsomely,  ]Major  Toppleton,  and  I  am  grate- 
ful for  your  kindness.  I  will  never  leave  your 
service  of  my  own  accord.  Last  night  Colonel 
"VTimpleton  told  me  about  his  new  steamer,  which 
is  to  run  in  opj^osition  to  our  Lightning  Express, 
and  offered  me  a  man's  Ava^es  to  2;o  either  as  entri- 
ncer  or  as  captain  of  her.  I  told  him  I  could  not 
leave  my  friends  while  they  used  me  so  well,  and 
declined  the  offer.  I  did  not  mean  to  tell  you  of 
this,  and  should  not,  if  things  had  not  turned  out 
just  as  they  have." 

The  major  bit  his  lip  again.  He  was  disposed 
to  be  angry ;  and,  in  a  passion,  he  was  as  nearly- 
like  Tommy  as  one  pea  is  like  another.  Uut  he  did 
not  give  way  to  the  inclination. 

"I  declined  the  offer,"  I  repeated,  when  I  saw 
hira  strut'ii-rini'  with  the  mischief  within  him. 

"  "When  will  that  steamer  be  ready  to  run  ?  "  ho 
asked. 


230  LTGIITNIXG   EXPRESS,   OR 

"  In  a  couple  of  months,  the  builder  told  me." 

"I'm  glad  you  told'  me  of  this,"  he  continued, 
after  chewing  upon  it  for  some  time.  "  Perhaj^s  it 
Avill  have  some  influence  upon  Tommy." 

And  there  the  matter  ended  for  the  present. 
Grace  said  she  would  do  all  she  could  for  me ; 
and  however  the  rest  of  the  house  might  regard 
nic,  I  felt  sure  of  an  earnest  advocate  in  her.  She 
Avent  on  shore  with  her  father,  and  as  the  skip- 
i:»er  of  the  yacht,  I  spent  the  rest  of  the  day  in 
woi-king  upon  her,  and  in  putting  down  a  set  of 
moorinGjs  for  her. 

The  next  day  I  took  a  party  up  the  lake  in  her, 
and  for  the  rest  of  the  week  I  was  kept  busy  in  my 
new  occupation.  I  acquitted  myself  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  my  employers,  not  only  in  pleasant  weather, 
but  in  a  heavy  squall,  Avhich  caught  us  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  Avidest  part  of  the  lake,  off  Gulfport. 

The  Wimpletonians  encamped  on  the  Shooter 
after  they  were  driven  from  the  Horse  Shoe.  The 
combat  of  Monday  Avas  not  decisive  enough  to  sat- 
isfy them,  and  the  Avar  Avas  renewed,  and  continued 
during  the  Aveck,  Avith   varying  success.     Each  party 


THE    raVAL    ACADEMIES.  231 

stole  tlie  boats  of  tlie  other,  and  inflicted  wliatever 
luiscliief  it  could.  On  Thursday  night,  in  the  midst 
of  a  violent  storm,  ■\vhcu  the  Toppleton  Guards 
sought  shelter  in  their  tents,  the  invading  hordes 
of  Wimpletoniaus  crossed  the  channel,  and  actually 
conquered  the  territory  of  their  rivals.  Having 
levelled  their  tents,  cut  the  cords,  and  broken  up 
the  tent-poles,  they  retired,  satisfied  with  the  mis- 
chief they  had  done.  The  Toppletonians  were  de- 
feated in  a  similar  attempt  to  invade  the  Sliooter 
the  next  night ;  and  when  the  end  of  the  week 
arrived,  neither  could  claim  any  material  advantage 
over  the  other.  The  Wimpletonians  had  retrieved 
the  disaster  of  the  first  dav,  and  would  have  lield 
the  island  if  they  had  not  been  afraid  of  the  inter- 
ference of  the  owner. 

Both  parties  returneil  to  their  studies,  their  hatred 
of  each  other  not  a  jot  abated,  ami  more  than  ever 
before  the  Toppletonians  were  on  the  lookout  fur 
some  opportunity  to  spite  the   other  side. 

"When  the  battalion  returned  on  Saturday  niglit, 
I  Avas  np  the  lake  in  the  Grace,  and  I  did  not  see 
JMiijor  Torr.my  for  several  days.     AVhen  we  did   meet. 


2o2  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

he  seemed  to  have  forgotten  everything  that  had 
happened ;  but  Grace  told  rae  she  had  listened  to 
the  conversation  between  her  father  and  him  re- 
lating to  the  affair  with  me.  At  first  the  young 
gentleman  was  furious  at  the  idea  of  retaining  rae 
in  the  yacht;  but  w^hen  he  heard  of  Colonel  Wini- 
jileton's  offer  he  yielded  the  point,  and  permitted 
me  to  remain. 

On  the  1st  of  September  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad 
was  completed.  Lewis  Ilolgate  had  run  the  dummy 
while  I  was  skipper  of  the  yacht ;  but  the  major 
would  not  permit  him  to  go  on  the  locomotive,  and 
I  was  summoned  back  to  my  old  position  without 
opposition  from  the  little  n)agnate. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  283 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE   LIGHTNIXG   EXPRESS    TEATS". 

THERE  was  something  about  Tommy's  actions 
■which  I  did  not  like.  Though  he  sjioke  to  me, 
as  before,  tlie  old  grudge  was  not  wiped  out.  I  saw 
that  he  and  Lewis  Holgate  were  very  thick  together, 
and  I  soon  found  that  my  fireman  had  ceased  to  be 
as  tractable  as  at  first,  I  heard  he  had  reported 
among  the  boys  that  I  was  a  Wimpletonian  at  heart, 
and  would  sell  out  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  to  the 
other  side  any  time  when  I  could  get  a  chance. 

The  road  was  completed,  and  I  ran  the  first  train 
tlirough  to  Ucayga.  Major  Toppleton  had  altered 
the  Middleport  into  a  ferry-boat  at  my  suggestion, 
and  she  plied,  in  connection  with  the  railroad,  from 
our  station  on  one  side  of  the  river  to  the  town  on 
llie  other.  When  we  had  gone  over  the  ground  a 
few    times,    the   major  sprang    the   trap.      Thd   two 


234  LIGnTXING   EXPRESS,   OE 

boats  ■vvhicli  ran  the  whole  length  of  the  lake  were 
advertised  to  start  from  Middleport,  touching  at  Cen- 
treport.  Passengers  from  the  latter  place  could  cross 
in  one  of  them,  and  go  by  the  railroad  to  Ucayga 
—  they  could,  but  they  did  not  like  to  do  so.  The 
steamers  plied  in  connection  with  the  road,  and  the 
Centreporters  were  as  angry  as  though  they  had 
been  sluU  out  from  the  rest  of  the  world;  for  their 
splendid  boat  was  not  yet  ready  to  run  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  new  arranjTeraent. 

On  Monday  morning  the  Lightning  Express  train 
Was  to  make  its  first  trip.  Major  Toppleton  told  me 
to  be  sure  and  "make  time."  The  track  had  been 
carefully  examined,  and  strengthened  where  it  Avas 
weak.  I  was  to  prove  to  the  Centreporters  that  a 
steamboat  could  not  comi^ete  with  the  Lake  Shore 
Railroad.  Everybody  was  excited,  and  the  president 
of  the  road  absented  himself  from  school,  in  order 
to  see  that  the  programme  was  properly  carried  out. 
I  could  have  dispensed  with  his  services ;  but  he 
insisted  upon  riding  on  the  foot-board,  jirobably  to 
see  that  I  did  not  sell  out  the  concern  to  the  other 
side. 


THE   EIVAL    ACABE^nES.  235 


"The  cars  are  full,  Wolf,"  said  Tommy,  after  I 
had  backed  the  locomotive  into  the  station,  and  the 
cars   were   shackled   to   it. 

"  I  am   glad  to  hear  it,"  I  replied. 

"  I  saw  quite  a  number  of  jjcople  from  the  other 
side  among  the   passengers." 

"  So  much  the  bettor.  We  shall  convince  them 
that  we   can  make  time  on  this  side   of  the   lake." 

Turning  suddenly  as  I  made  this  remark,  I  saw 
Lewis  Holgate  give  Tommy  a  significant  wink.  I 
did  not  understand  what  it  meant,  and  it  troubled 
me  a  little.  I  should  have  been  very  glad  to  get  rid 
of  my  fireman  ;  but  he  Avas  on  ^uch  intimate  terms 
with  the  president  that  it  was  useless  for  me  to  say 
anything.  He  did  not  attend  to  his  duty,  did  not 
keep  the  working  i)arts  of  the  engine  well  oiled,  and 
even  neglected  liis  fires.  In  fact,  ho  had  risen  above 
liis  business  since  he  had  run    the   dummy. 

"All  aboard!"  shouted  the  gentlemanly  conduct- 
or,  as  he  gave  me  the  signal  to  start. 

As  I  always  did  before  I  let  on  the  steam,  I 
glance<l  at  the  machinery  around  mo.  The  reversing 
lever  had  been  changed  since  I  adjusted  it.     It  must 


236  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

have  been  done  by  one  of  my  companions  in  the 
cab.  I  restored  the  lever  to  its  j^roper  jDosition  for 
going  ahead,  and  opened  the  throttle  valve.  Tlie 
train  started,  but  it  went  heavy.  The  engine  acted 
weak.  Glancing  at  the  steam  gauge,  I  saw  that  it  in- 
dicated only  three  quarters  of  the  necessary  pressure. 

"  How's  your   fire  ?  "  I  asked  of  Lewis. 

«  Good  ! " 

"Look  at  it  and  see.     The  steam  is  low." 

He  obeyed  me;  but  I  saw  that  he  put  hardly  a 
spoonful  of  coal  into  the  furnace,  and  closed  the  door, 
"while  I  was  looking  out  ahead.  The  train  went  well 
down  the  grade ;  but  when  we  approached  Si^angle- 
port,  we  dragged  hard. 

"  Fill  up  your  furnace,  Lewis,"  said  I,  rather  sharp- 
ly, as  I  observed  that  the  gauge  had  hardly  gained 
anything. 

He  put  another  spoonful  of  coal  into  the  furnace. 

"  Fill  it  up ! "  I  added,  warmly ;  and  I  began  to 
feel  that  some  one  was  trying  to  sell  me  out. 

"  It  won't  burn  if  I  put  in  too  much,"  growled 
Lewis. 

"  Shovel  it  in,"  I  continued,  glancing  into  the  fire 
box,  which  was  nearly  empty. 


THE    RIVAL    AC^VDEMIES.  237 

"More  yet,"  I  added,  as  he  attemjDted  to  close 
the  door. 

I  kept  my  eye  on  him  till  I  was  satisfied  that 
we  should  soon  liave  all  the  steam  we  could  use. 
AVhcn  I  stopped  the  train  at  Spangleport  we  had 
lost  five  minutes,  and,  what  was  worse,  I  had  nearly 
lost  my  temper.  Lewis  Holgate  appeared  to  bo 
laLorin'^  for  the  defeat,  rather  than  the  success,  of 
the  Lightning  Express  train.  The  presence  of  Mr, 
President  Tommy  on  the  foot-board  seemed  to  be  a 
partial  explanation  of  his  conduct.  But  I  was  deter- 
mined that  the  enterprise  should  not  be  a  failure. 
I  was  fully  resolved  to  make  time  if  steam  could 
do  it.  Lightning  Express  was  on  trial,  and  if  it 
failed,  the  Centreporters,  whom  I  was  now  accused 
of  flxvoring,  would  take  courage. 

"We  stopped  but  a  moment  at  Spangleport.  I 
opened  the  furnace,  and  stirred  up  the  fire  myself. 
At  the  same  time  I  koi)t  one  eye  on  Lewis,  and 
the  other  on  Tommy;  for  I  wanted  to  catch  one  of 
tlicm  reversing  a  crank,  or  doing  any  other. mischief. 
]}oth  of  them  loolced  innocent,  though  I  saw  tlicm 
exchanging  significant  glances.     By   this   time  I  had 


238  LIGUTNING   EXPIIESS,   OR 

a  full  head  of  steam,  and  was  satisfied  that  I  could 
make  up  the  lost  time,  if  no  further  obstacles  were 
thrown  in  my  way.  The  eight  miles  of  road  be- 
tween Spangleport  and  Grass  Springs  was  almost  as 
straight  as  an  arrow,  and  I  expected  to  recover  tlie 
lost  ground  on  this  run.  Only  an  hour  had  been 
allowed  for  the  passengers  to  reach  Ucayga.  If  the 
train  Avas  behind  time,  those  going  east  and  west 
would  lose  their  passage. 

"All  aboard!"  shouted  the  conductor,  as  he  gave 
me  the  signal  to  start  the  train. 

"  You  are  on  time,  Wolf,  and  you  needn't  hurry 
yourself,"  said  Tommy,  as  he  consulted  his  watch. 

"  There's  time  enough,"  I  replied,  detemiined  not 
to  be   deceived  by  him. 

I  was  nervous  and  excited,  for  I  was  conscious 
that  both  of  my  companions  on  the  engine  were 
laboring  to  make  the  Lightning  Express  a  failure 
in  my  charge.  I  kept  my  hand  on  the  lever  of  the 
throttle  valve,  almost  afraid  that  it  would  be  wrenched 
from  my -grasp.  I  let  on  the  steam,  and  kept  letting 
it  on  till  the  Ucavcia — for  that  was  the  name  which 
had  been  given  to  the  locomotive,  in  compliment  to 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  239 

the    place    which   it    was    necessary   to    conciliate  — 
seemed  to  fly  through  the  air. 

"Shovel  in  the  coal,  Lewis,"  said  I  to  my  unwill- 
ing fireman,  while  we  were  rushing  on  at  this  furious 
rate. 

"  I  think  there  is  enough  coal  in  the  furnace,"  re- 
plied lie,  opening  the  door. 

"I  don't  think  so.     Shovel  it   in!" 

lie  put  in  about  half  a  shovel  full,  and  did  it 
BO  doggedly  that  I  was  fully  convinced  he  was 
laboring  to  defeat  the  experiment.  I  spoke  to  him. 
very  sharply.  I  threatened  to  stoji  the  train,  and 
send  for  Major  Toppleton. 

"I  am  the  president  of  this  road.  If  you  have 
any  complaints  to  make,  you  will  make  them  to 
me,"  interposed  Tommy,  who  was  holding  on  to  the 
cab  with  both  hands. 

"Will  you  tell  the  fireman,  then,  to  do  his  duty?" 

"He  is  doing  it," 

"  Will  you  tell  him  to  put  in  more  coal  ? " 

"  Fill  it  u]»,  Lewis,"  added  Tommy,  who  seemed 
to  be  conscious  that  there  was  a  point  beyond  which 
even  he  could   nut  go. 


240  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,  OK 

My  rascally  assistant  then  attempted  to  choke  the 
fires  by  overloading  the  furnace ;  but  I  watched  him, 
and  succeeded  in  preventing  him  from  doing  the 
mischief  he  intended.  I  continued  to  increase  the 
speed  of  the  Ucayga  until,  I  think,  we  were  going  at 
the  rate  of  forty  miles  an  hour.  Tommy's  hair  stood 
on  end,  and  so  did  my  own,  for  that  matter ;  but  I 
was  desperate.  I  blew  a  long  whistle  as  we  ap- 
proached Grass  Sjirings.  TThen  I  shut  off  the  steam 
I  looked  at  my  watch.  We  had  made  the  eight 
miles  in  twelve  minutes,  and  the  train  was  on  time 
when  we  went  into  the  Springs.  I  was  satisfied 
then. 

The  moment  the  engine  stoj^^^ed.  Tommy  jumped 
off.  He  did  not  say  anything,  but  I  was  convinced 
that  he  did  not  like  riding  on  the  locomotive,  going 
at  lightning-express  rates.  I  was  glad  to  get  rid  of 
him.  I  need  not  say  that  the  events  of  the  morning 
made  me  very  uncomfortable.  I  had  seen  but  little 
of  Tommy  since  the  events  on  the  Horse  Shoe ;  but 
I  was  conscious  that  he  was  nursing  his  wrath 
against  me.  Long  before  this  time  he  would  have 
driven    me  out  of  Middleport  if  he  had  not  been  so 


THE    BIVAL    ACADEMIES.  24l 

uni:)opular  himself  among  the  boys.  My  friend  Dick 
Skotchley  —  for  as  such  I  was  proud  to  regard  him 
—  had  fought  my  battle  for  me  among  the  students. 
Tommy  was  so  conceited  and  overbearing  that  all 
the  fellows  hated  him ;  and  they  were  ripe  for  a 
mutiny  against  him  in  his  capacity  as  president  of 
the  road,  as  well  as  in  that  of  major  of  the  battalion. 
More  than  this,  Tommy's  flither  was  still  my  friend, 
though  he  feared  his  son.  Without  egotism  I  may 
Bay  that  I  was  popular  in  Middleport.  If  I  had  not 
been,  I  should  have  been  kicked  out,  like  a  dog, 
by  my  imperious  little  master. 

"  How  are  you.  Wolf? "  shouted  Tom  Walton,  as 
I  was  about  to  start  the  train. 

"  Jump  on,  Tom,"  I  replied,  as  the  conductor  gave 
the  word  to  go  ahead. 

My  friend  leaped  into  the  cab,  and  I  let  on  the 
Bteam.  He  told  me  he  was  spending  a  few  days 
with  Ilia  aunt  at  the  Springs,  and  that  ho  was  look- 
inj;  for  somethini;  to  do.  He  was  an  active,  indus- 
trious,  quick-witted  fellow,  who  never  needed  to  bo 
told  twice  how  to  do  Iho  same  thing.  Tliough 
Lo  knew  nothing  about  au  engine,,  he  had  the  abili- 
16 


£42  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

ty  to  learn,  and  it  immediately  occurred  to  me  that 
he  would  make  a  first-rate  fireman,  for  it  was  evi- 
dent that  Lewis  Ilolgate  and  myself  could  not  much 
longer  stand  together  on   the  same  foot-board, 

"This  is  bully  — isn't  it,  Wolf?"  said  Tom,  as 
the  engine  attained  her  highest  speed,  though,  as 
there  were  now  occasional  curves,  I  was  obliged  to 
ease  her  a  little  at  times. 

"Do  you   like  it?"   I  inquired. 

"  First  rate.  It  is  almost  as  good  as  the  Grace  — ■ 
not  quite,"  replied  he,  with  proper  enthusiasm.  "  Is 
this  the  Lightning  Express  folks  talk  so  much 
about?" 

"This  is  the  Lightning  Express.  We  have  come 
through  in  a  hurry  this  time.  Five  minute's'  delay 
would  ruin  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  and  cause 
more  crowing  over  at  Centreport  than  ten  thou- 
sand roosters  could  do  in  a  year.  But  we  are  on 
time." 

"I'm  glad  you  are,"  laughed  Tom.  "I  expect 
the  train  will  always  be  on  time  while  you  run  it." 

"If  nothing  happens,  I  shall  ]iut  my  passengers 
down  in  Ucayga  at  the  time  promised." 


TUE    ElVAL    ACADEMIES.  243 

"  I  hope  iiolhing   will  happen,  then." 

But  at  that  very  instant,  before  he  had  finished 
the  remark,  I  saw,  as  we  shot  round  a  curve,  a  little 
child  at  play  between  the  two  rails.  A  Avoman  was 
running  towards  it  in  frantic  haste.  My  blood  froze 
with  horror.  At  first  I  felt  like  fointing ;  but  } 
closed  the  valve   and  whistled   to  put  on  the  brakes. 

"Jam  down  that  brake,  Lewis !  "  I  gasped  to  the 
fireman,  indicating  the  one  on  the  tender. 

Tom  AYalton  did  not  say  anything,  but  passing 
through  the  window  in  the  cab,  he  made  his  way  to 
the  cow-catcher.  I  grasped  the  reversing  levers,  and 
I  think  all  the  passengers  must  have  been  thrown  off 
their  seats  Avhen  I  checked  the  train.  But  it  was 
still  doubtful  whether  I  could  stop  in  season  to  save 
the  child,  and  my  heart  was  iu  my  mouth. 


241  LIGUTNIXG    EXPRESS,   OR 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

MAKING    UP    TIME. 

IT  seemed  to  me,  if  the  locomotive  ran  over  tliat 
child,  that  I  could  not  have  the  audacity  to  live 
another  day,  though  it  would  not  be  my  fault.  It 
was  so  awful,  so  horrible,  that  I  prayed  to  be 
saved  from  the  catastrophe.  I  did  not  feel  as  though 
I  could  ever  hold  up  my  head  again  if  that  inno- 
cent little  child  was  sacrificed.  It  would  be  better 
.that  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  should  be  sunk  at 
tlie  bottom  of  tlie  lake  than  that  a  single  jirecious 
life  should  be  lost. 

My  blood  ran  cold  through  my  veins  as  I  gazed 
at  the  little  child,  wlio  seemed  to  be  paralyzed  with 
astonishment  as  the  iron  monster  swept  towards 
her.  It  was  a  little  girl,  not  more  than  four  or 
five  years  old.  The  woman  who  ran  shriekine:  to- 
wards   the   track   was   doubtless  her   mother.     What 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  245 

a  moment  of  agouy  it  was  to  her!  My  heart  bled 
for  her,  and  the  triumph  of  the  Lightning  Express 
sank  into  insignificance  as  I  contemplated  the  thrill- 
ing scene. 

As  the  engine  came  nearer  to  the  little  girl,  my 
hopes  rose  higher,  for  our  speed  was  efTeotually 
checked  by  the  efforts  we  had  made.  Tom  "Walton 
was  on  the  cow-catcher,  and  I  knew  that  he  would 
do  the  riG;ht  thincr  at  the  risjht  time.  The  child 
showed  no  disposition  to  move  ;  indeed,  I  think  she 
had  no  power  to  do  so,  even  if  she  comprehended 
the  nature  of  her  peril.  As  we  came  near  enough, 
I  saw  her  eyes  set  in  a  kind  of  fixed  stare,  which 
indicated  astonishment  rather  than  fear. 

"Jam  down  the  brakes,  Lewis!"  I  called  to  the 
fireman,  as  I  labored  to  check  the  speed  of  the  en- 
gine ;  and  I  must  do  him  the  justice  to  say  that 
he  was  not  at  all  backward  in  obeying  my  order, 
though  I  doubt  whether  he  would  have  been  equally 
zealous  if  it  had  been  I,  instead  of  the  child,  who 
was  on  the  track. 

The  speed  of  the  train  was  checked,  but  it  was 
not   stopped ;    and    so   far   as    the   life   of   the   child 


246  LIGHTlSriNG   EXPRESS,   OE 

was  concerned,  we  might  as  well  have  been  going 
at  the  rate  of  forty  as  five  miles  an  hour,  for  the 
sliohtest  blow  of  the  cow-catcher  would  have  killed 
her.  All  this  transpired  within  a  few  seconds. 
Hardly  an  instant  elapsed  after  the  steam  was  shut 
off,  and  the  brakes  put  on,  before  I  was  trying  to 
back  the  engine.  The  sparks  flew  under  the  drive- 
wheels,  but  still  the  iron  mass  swept  on  towards 
the  child,  whose  instants  appeared  to  be  numbered. 
It  seemed  to  me  that  I  stopped  breathing  as  the 
little  child  disappeared  behind  the  forward  part  of 
the  locomotive.  I  expected  to  hear  a  shriek  —  to 
be  conscious  that  the  child  was  a  gory,  mangled, 
and  shapeless  mass  beneath. 

Almost  at  the  same  moment,  Tom  Walton  straight- 
ened up,  holding  the  child  in  one  arm.  The  engine 
had  almost  stopped,  and  was  still  groaning  and  strug- 
gling under  my  ineffectual  labors  to  bring  it  to  a 
complete  stand.  My  heart  leaped  the  instant  I  saw 
the  child  in  the  arms  of  my  friend.  My  blood, 
rolled  back  by  the  fearful  suspense,  seemed  to  be 
bursting  through  my  veins,  and  I  was  disposed  to 
shout  for  joy. 


mu',,Vm  ,M:i":;:rft'"rr 


THE    KTVAL    ACADEMIES.  247 

« Sbo  is  safe ! "  cried  Tom,  at  the  top  of  liis 
voice,  as  he  leaped  from  tlie  eugine  upon  the 
'Xround,  and  placed  the  little  girl  in  the  arras  of 
lier  mother. 

I  saw  the  horror-stricken  parent  press  the  little 
one  to  her  bosom,  I  heard  the  sob  of  convulsive 
agony  which  attended  the  tremendous  reaction.  It 
was  like  passing  from  death  to  life  for  her,  and  I 
felt  that  I  could  almost  understand  even  a  mother's 
emotion. 

"Thank  God!  Thank  God!"  I  cried;  and  they 
were  not  idle  words  that  I  uttered,  for  it  seemed  to 
me  that  the  Good  Father  had  interposed  to  save 
me  from  what  I  should  have  remembered  with  hor- 
ror all  the  rest  of  my  life. 

I  could  not  but  regard  it  as  an  interposition  of 
Providence  in  my  favor,  rather  than  tlie  child's ; 
but  in  the  mother's  favor  rather  than  that  of  either 
of  us,  for  she  would  have  been  the  greatest  sufferer. 
I  am  sure  this  incident  had  a  powerful  influence 
upon  me,  not  for  the  moment,  or  the  day  only,  but 
for  all  tlie  rest  of  my  life.  It  has  kept  my  eyes 
open  when    I  was  disj)0sed    to    close    them ;    it    has 


'2iS  LIGHTNIXG    EXPRESS,   OR 

decided  tbe  question  of  running  a  risk  when  noth- 
ing else  seemed  to  restrain  me  ;  it  taught  me 
to  regard  human  life  as  too  sacred  to  be  trifled 
with. 

I  saw  the  fond  mother  clasp  her  child,  and  with 
the  reaction  came  the  thought  that  I  was  running 
the  Lightning  Express  train ;  that  the  reputation 
of  Middlej)ort  depended  upon  the  time  I  should 
make. 

"  Jump  on,  Tom ! "  I  called  to  my  friend,  as  he 
paiised  for  a  moment  to  gaze  at  the  mother  and 
her  rescued  child. 

"  That  Avas  a  narrow  squeak ! "  said  he ;  and  the 
whole  face  of  the  generous  fellow  expanded  into  one 
smile  of  satisfaction. 

"It  was,  indeed,  Tom,"  I  replied,  as  I  let  on  the 
steam,  and  whistled  to  take  off  the  brakes.  "It 
was  a  merciful  providence  that  you  were  on  the 
engine  with  me.  If  you  had  not  been,  the  child 
would  have  been  dead  at  this  instant." 

"  I  am  glad  I  was  here,  then.  I  think  that  woman 
will  keep  her  child  in  the  house  after  this,"  re- 
plied he. 


THE   RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  249 

I  crowded  on  the  steam  again,  and  once  more 
the  train  flew  like  the  wind  along  the  lake  shore. 
All  the  time  I  was  thinking  of  that  little  child  ; 
of  the  ancruish  that  would  have  filled  that  cottage 
by  the  lake,  at  this  moment,  if  Tom  TV^alton  had 
not  happened  to  be  on  the  engine  with  me.  I 
could  have  done  no  more  than  I  did  do,  and  though 
the  train  was  on  the  very  point  of  stopping,  there 
was  still  momentum  enough  left  in  it  to  have 
crushed  the  little  one  to  death.  I  was  grateful 
to  God  as  I  had  never  been  before  for  sj^aring  me 
such  a  calamity. 

In  the  exhilaration  of  the  moment  I  urged  forward 
the  locomotive  till  I  saw  the  steamer  which  was 
waiting  to  convey  the  passengers  across  the  river.  I 
looked  at  my  gold  watch,  tliought  of  Grace  Top- 
pleton,  as  I  always  did  wlien  I  glanced  at  its  face, 
and  almost  forgot  why  I  had  taken  it  from  my 
])Ockct  in  thinking  of  the  expression  of  her  beau- 
tiful face  when  I  should  relate  to  her  the  thiilling 
incident  whicli  had  just  occurred.  I  was  on  time; 
I  was  ahead  of  time,  for  I  had  driven  the  oiigiiie 
at   a   furious   speed.      But    I    had    worked    carefully; 


250  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,    OR 

I  had  favored  it  on  the  curves,  and  I  felt  as  safe 
myself  as  if  I  had  been  in  my  father's  house. 

Tlie  brakes  were  put  on,  and  the  train  stopped 
at  the  rude  pier  which  had  been  built  for  the 
steamer.  Major  Toppletou  had  carefully  instructed 
Captain  Underwood,  and  the  boat  was  ready  to 
start  on  the  instant.  Hardly  had  the  cars  stopped 
before  the  deck  hands  began  to  load  the  baggage 
on  the  trucks.  Everybody  worked  as  if  the  salva- 
tion of  the  nation  depended  upon  his  individual 
exertions,  and  I  am  afraid  that  some  of  the  pas- 
sengers had  occasion  to  weep  as  they  saw  the 
rude  manner  in  which  their  baggage  was  tossed 
about.  I  do  not  think  it  would  have  taken  a  mo- 
ment lonsjer  for  the  men  to  handle  the  trunks 
respectfully  —  for  this  seems  to  me  to  be  the  proper 
word,  since  the  feelings  of  the  traveller  are  so 
largely  centred  in  his  luggage. 

Major  Toppleton  stood  on  the  platform,  and  drove 
up  the  men.  He  did  not  seem  to  care  whose  trunk 
was  smashed  if  he  only  succeeded  in  carrying  out 
his  own  plans.  He  had  allowed  just  one  hour  for 
the   transportation   of   the    passengers    from   Middle- 


THE    RIVAL    ACADKiTTES.  251 

jiort  to  the  stntion  in  Ucnj'gn,  and  I  think  lie 
■would  cheerfully  have  given  ten  thousand  dollars 
rather  than  fail  in  the  enterprise. 

Tommy  stood  on  the  platform,  near  his  father ; 
Lut  tliere  was  no  expression  of  satisfaction  on  his 
face.  He  had  labored  to  defeat  the  enterprise  in 
order  to  overwhelm  me.  It  was  disaster  to  him, 
and  I  am  inclined  to  think  he  was  still  holding 
in  livelv  remembrance  the  disobedience  of  which 
I  had  been  guilty  three  months  before. 

The  trucks,  piled  high  with  trunks  and  valises, 
were  wheeled  on  the  forward  deck  of  the  Middle- 
port,  from  which  they  could  be  rolled  to  the  bag- 
gage car  on  the  other  side  when  the  train  arrived. 
The  boat  started.  The  long  experience  of  Captain 
Underwood  enabled  him  to  clear  or  make  a  landing 
in  the  shortest  possible  time.  But  fifteen  minutes 
liad  been  allowed  for  getting  the  passengers  over, 
an<l  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  trucks  on 
the  platform  upon  the  other  side  of  the  river  full 
five  minutes  before  the  train  was  due.  ^My  anxiety 
liad  come  to  an  end.  I  looked  upon  the  Lightning 
Express  as  a  glorious  triumph,  and,  in  contrast  with 


252  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

it,  I  could  not  help  thinking  how  cheap  and  mean 
we  should  have  felt  if  the  train  had  rushed  off 
before  the  j^assengers  arrived.  The  failure  would 
have  been  charged  upon  me,  and  I  am  afraid  I 
could  not  have  saved  myself  by  exposing  the  con- 
spiracy which  had  been  instigated  by  Tommy. 

The  trains  from  the  east  and  from  the  Avcst, 
which  passed  each  other  at  Ucayga,  were  both 
on  time,  as  they  generally  were.  I  ,saw  the  truck 
unloaded,  then  loaded  again  with  the  baggage  of 
the  passengers  who  were  going  up  the  lake,  and 
in  a  few  moments  the  Middleport  was  crossing 
the  river.  The  train  was  to  leave  at  quarter  past 
ten,  but  the  promptness  of  the  steamer's  people 
allowed  me  five  minutes  of  grace.  Lewis  had  left 
the  engine,  when  he  knew  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
"  oil  up,"  and  I  was  performing  this  work  myself, 
when  Major  Toppleton  came  up,  his  face  beaming 
witli  smiles.  My  fireman  was  talking  with  Tommy 
on  the  platform. 

"  Well,  Wolf,  this  works  to  a  charm,"  said  the 
magnate,  rubbing  his  hands  with  satisfaction. 

"Yes,  sir;   we   came   through   on  time,  after   all," 


TUE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES. 


255 


I   replied,   as   I  poured   the    oil   on   one   of  tbe   pis- 
ton rods. 

«I  heard  there  was  a  child  on  the  track  this  side 

of  the  Springs." 

"Yes,  sir;  Tom  Walton,  who  was  on  the  engine 
M-itli  me,  went  out  on  the  cow-catcher  and  saved  it. 
I  tluiik  we  should  have  lost  the  trip  if  Tom  had 
not  been  with  me,"  I  continued,  fully  explaining 
the  exciting  incident, 

«  Tom  is  a  good  fellow,  and  he  always  has  his 
liead    near    the   ends   of   his  fingers,"   answered   the 

major. 

I  Avanted  to  tell  him  that  Tommy  and  my  fire, 
man  had  done  what  they  could  to  defeat  the  great 
enterprise;  hut  I  concluded  that  it  would  be  nse- 
less  to  do  so,  for  the  son  was  the  master.  I  had 
made  a  good  impression  in  Tom  Walton's  favor, 
and  I  reserved  my  next  step  till  a  more  conven- 
ient season. 


254"  ,      LIGUT^^ING   EXritESS,  OK 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE   NEW   FIBEMAN". 


"  A  LL  aboard!"  shoutecl  our  bustling  conductor, 
.Xjl-  who  was  a  very  gentlemanly  young  man, 
and  had  had  considerable  exi^erience  in  this  ca- 
jjacity. 

He  wore  a  gold  badge  on  the  lajiel  of  his  coat, 
wrought  in  the  shaj^e  of  a  train  of  cars,  on  which 
was  inscribed  the  word  "  Conductor,"  in  such  curious 
old  Enfrlish  text  that  no  one  who  did  not  know 
what  it  was  could  read  it.  lie  alleged  that  the 
jewel  had  been  j^vesented  to  him  by  a  host  of  ad- 
miring passengers ;  but  those  who  knew  him  best 
declared  that  he  had  spent  a  whole  month's  salaiy 
in  its  purchase.  It  w\as  a  A'ery  jn-ctty  thing,  and, 
wherever  he  got  it,  he  was  certainly  polite  enough 
to  have  merited  it. 

The   gentleman  with   the   gold  jewel   bowed,  and 


THE   EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  255 

gracefully  made  the  signal  to  me ;  and,  after  glan- 
cing at  the  reversing  handle,  I  grasped  the  throttle 
valve,  ready  to  start.  At  this  moment  Lewis  sprang 
upon  the  footboard.  I  had  attended  to  the  fire 
myself,  and  Avas  thoroughly  disgusted  with  the  con- 
duct of  my  fireman. 

"  Stop  !  "  shouted  Tommy,  imperiously. 

It  was  the  president  of  the  road  who  spoke,  and 
I  was  obliged  to  obey. 

"  It  is  against  the  rules  of  the  road  for  any  one 
to  ride  on  the  cnmne,"  continued  the  little  maornate. 

"  I  never  heard  of  any  such  rule  before,  Mr. 
President,  or  I  should  not  have  disregarded  it,"  I 
replied,  as  gently  as  I  could,  though  I  know  my 
face  flushed  with  indiirnation. 

"  I  make  the  rule  now,  then,"  added  Tommy. 

"Tom  is  only  going  to  Grass  Springs  with  me," 
I  ventured  to  suijijest. 

"lie  sliall  not  ride  on  the  engine.  Conductor,  you 
will  collect  his  fn-e,"  replied  Tommy,  glancing  at 
the  gentlemaidy  person  Avith  the  gold  jewel. 

"Wolf,  I  haven't  a  red  cent  in  my  trousers  pock- 
et ;  but  I  suppose  I  can  Avalk  to  the  Springs,"  said 


256  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OR 

my  friend,  who  knew  Low  vain  it  would  be  to 
api^eal  against  the  orders  of  the  magnificent  little 
jjresident. 

I  slipped  half  a  dollar  into  his  hand,  and  he 
jumped  down. 

"  Have  you  the  money  to  pay  your  fare  ? "  de- 
manded the  gentlemanly  conductor,  for  he  was 
ready  enough  to  "spoony"  to  the  j)resident. 

"  I  have,"  answered  Tom,  with  dignity,  as  he 
stepped  into  the  forward  car. 

It  was  a  gratuitous  insult  to  me,  and  Lewis  Hol- 
gate  chuckled  with  delight.  I  bit  my  lips  with 
vexation ;  but  I  said  nothing  —  it  was  of  no  use 
to  -say  anything.  Even  Major  Topj^leton  himself 
would  not  have  dared  to  disj^ute  the  fiat  of  his  son. 

"All  right!"  cried  the  conductor;  and  I  started 
the  train,  a  minute  behind  time. 

I  was  vexed  and  unhappy.  I  felt  like  a  free 
man  reduced  to  slavery.  I  had  lost  Tommy's  favor, 
and  I  was  nobody,  though  everybody  else  praised 
me.  I  felt  that  I  had  done  my  duty  to  the  road, 
and  to  Middleport  in  general.  I  had  worked  hard 
at  electioneering  to  keej)  Tommy  in  his  position  as 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  257 

president.  I  bad  supported  him  to  the  best  of  my 
ability;  but  he  insulted  me  without  remorse.  I 
could  not  help  thinking  that  it  was  stupid  and 
servile  in  me  to  stand  it ;  and  I  did  not  think  I 
could  endure  another  snubbing  without  resenting  it. 
I  felt  weak  and  ashamed  of  myself,  especially  as 
Colonel  "Wimpleton  was  still  anxious  to  have  me 
go  in  the  new  steamer. 

I  ran  into  Grass  Springs  on  time,  and  Tom  left 
the  train,  though  not  without  saying  a  parting 
word  to  me.  I  wanted  him  to  "fire"  with  me, 
and  I  had  a  plan  in  my  mind  to  bring  it  about ; 
but  while  the  j^resident  of  the  road  was  bottling 
up  his  spite  against  me,  I  could  hardly  hope  to 
gain  ray  point. 

The  steamer  for  Ilitaca  was  advertised  to  leave 
Middleport  at  eleven  o'clock,  and  at  the  appointed 
hour  I  had  the  passengers  on  the  wharf.  Within 
a  few  moments  of  the  time,  the  boat  was  oif,  and 
those  who  were  bound  to  Centreport  made  the 
passage  in  an  hour  and  a  quarter  from  Ucayga, 
which  was  three  quarters  of  an  hour  loss  than 
they  had  ever  Ju;conn)lished  it  before.  Major  Top- 
17 


258  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OK 

pleton  was  more  delighted  than  ever,  and,  though 
it  was  against  the  rules  of  the  road  for  any  one  to 
ride  on  the  engine,  he  jumjjed  upon  the  footboard 
as  lively  as  though  he  had  been  a  boy.  I  ran  up 
to  the  engine-house. 

"It  works  splendidly,  Wolf  I"  said  the  great  man, 
rubbing  his  hands. 

"  It  has  come  out  right  this  time ;  but  I  think 
it  is  making  rather  close  calculations,"  I  replied,  as 
we  walked  out  of  the  building. 

"What  do  you  mean,  Wolf?"  he  asked,  anxious- 
ly, as  though  he  feared  there  was  still  room  for 
the  great  enterprise  to  fail,  as  indeed  there  was  if 
Lewis  Ilolgate  continued  on  the  engine  with  me. 

"  We  have  hardly  five  minutes  to  spare  now, 
and  the  slightest  accident  might  cause  us  to  miss 
our  connections." 

"But  with  me  the  battle  is  to  make  the  time  to 
Ucayga  inside  of  an  hour.  If  it  is  moie  than  an 
hour,  it  will  sound  bad,  and  we  might  just  as  well 
])e  an  hour  and  a  half  as  an  hour  and  a  quarter. 
I  thought  it  was  done  handsomely  this  trip." 

"Perhaps    it    was,   sir;    but    I   was    five    minutes 


THE   FvIVAL   ACADEMIES.  259 

behind  time  wlien  we  reached  Spangleport,  and  if 
I  had  not  run  at  the  rate  of  a  mile  in  a  minute 
and  a  half  we  should  have  missed  the  trains.  Then 
the  child  on  the  track  threw  me  back  two  minutes 
more,  and  compelled  me  to  run  the  engine  at  its 
highest  speed.  The  iron  on  the  track  is  not  heavy 
euouQ-h  for  such  high  rates." 

"  But   why  were   you   five   minutes   late  at   Span 
gleport?"    asked  the  major. 

Should  I  tell  him  why?     It  might  endanger    my 
place  to  bring  a  cliarge  against  Tommy;   but  I  felt 
•  myself  independent  enougli  to  do  so. 

"My  fireman  di'l  not  do  his  duty.  I  have  been 
obliged  to  run  tlie  engine  and  fire  too,"  I  replied, 
explaining  all  that  Lewis  had  done. 

"  What,  Ilolgate !  Discharge  him  then,  at  once," 
sail  the  great  man,  impatiently. 

"I  am  afraid  that  will  not  be  so  easy  a  matter," 
I  adiled,  with  a  smile. 

"I  think  it  will." 

"Lewis  does  not  act  altogether  on  ]m  own  ac- 
count, though  he  wants  my  place." 

"Turn  him  off.     Don't    let    him  run  another  tri])." 


260  LIGUTNING   EXPRESS,    OR 

"I  am  sorry  to  say,  sir,  that  Tommy  is  at  the 
bottom  of  the  mischief." 

«  Tommy  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

I  told  him  that  Tommy  had  been  working  against 
me  since  the  affair  at  the  Horse  Shoe ;  that  he  was 
trying  to  undermine  me.  The  major  was  incredu- 
lous. Tommy  was  obstinate,  he  knew,  but  the 
president  would  not  do  anything  to  injure  the  Lake 
Shore  Railroad.  He  was  willing  to  believe  that 
Lewis  Holgate  wished  to  get  me  out  of  my  place, 
but  not  that  his  son  was  a  party  to  the  consjjiracy. 

"  Lewis  left  the  engine  while  we  were  waiting 
for  the  boat  at  Ucayga,  and  I  should  not  have  had 
steam  enough  to  start  the  train  if  I  had  not  shov- 
elled in  the  coal  myself.  He  did  not  even  oil  up, 
as  he  should  have  done,  and  as  I  told  him  to  do," 
I  continued. 

"  Discharge  him,  then." 

"But  all  this  time  he  was  talking  with  Tommy; 
and  you  may  be  sure  that  your  son  will  not  permit 
him  to  be  discharged." 

Major  Toppleton   bit   his  lips.     He  was  beginning 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  2GI 

to  comprehend  the  situation.  He  was  actually  afraid 
to  cairy  his  purpose  into  execution  now,  and,  as  I 
expected  he  would  when  the  pinch  came,  he  changed 
the  subject  of  conversation,  and  said  no  more  about 
getting  rid  of  Lewis  Ilolgate. 

"  I  think,  if  we  could  save  the  two  stops  at  Span- 
gleport  and  Grass  Springs,  I  could  make  the  time 
without  difficulty,  even  if  we  lost  a  few  moments 
on  the  way,"  I  suggested,  as  the  entering  wedge 
of  the  plan  I  had  formed. 

.  "But  we  can't  neglect  those  two  places.  The 
people  would  tear  up  the  rails  if  we  failed  to  ac- 
commodate them." 

"We  will,  not  neglect  them.  I  suggest  that  you 
run  the  dummy  half  an  hour  before  the  Lightning 
Express  for  way  passengers." 

I  explained  fully  my  plan,  and  he  was  willing  to 
adopt  it,  especially  when  I  added  that  Lewis  Ilol- 
gate could  liandle  the  dummy  very  well  indeed. 
He  understood  me  then,  and  I  thouglit  I  could  see 
a  smile  of  relief  on  his  face. 

"  IJut  you  must  have  a  fireman,"  he  added. 

"Yes,  sir;  ami  I  wouM  like  to  have  Tom  Walton. 
He  is  a  faithful  fellow,  and  learns  (puck." 


262  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"  Engage  him  then  at  once.  Who  is  the  super- 
intendent now  ?  " 

"  Wetherstane,  sir." 

He  knew  very  well  who  the  superintendent  was, 
and  knew  also  that  he  was  one  of  the  president's 
most  bitter  opponents.  Wetherstane  Avould  dis- 
charge any  one  whom  Tommy  did  like,  or  hire  any 
one  whom  he  did  not  like,  without  any  scruples, 
and  enjoy  the  operation.  When  the  session  of  the 
Institute  closed,  the  superintendent  was  waited  upon 
by  the  major.  I  do  not  know  what  passed  between 
them;  but  the  next  day  posters  in  all  the  places 
on  the  line  announced  the  new  arrangement.  Tom 
Walton  was  engaged. 

In  the  afternoon  I  ran  the  Lightning  Express 
through  the  second  time.  Tonmiy  was  not  on  the 
engine  this  time,  and  by  closely  watching  my  fire- 
man, I  compelled  him  to  do  his  duty  ;  but  without 
this  care  on  my  part,  we  should  have  failed  in  our 
connections.  The  next  day,  the  last  that  Lewis  was 
to  run  with  me,  for  the  new  arrangement  was  to 
take  effect  on  Wednesday  morning,  I  found  that 
the    tender   tanks   were    empty   just   as   the    engine 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  263 

was  to  move  down  to  the  station  for  the  train. 
They  had  been  filled  an  hour  before,  and  I  was 
satisfied  this  was  another  trick  to  bring  me  into 
disgrace.  If  I  had  not  discovered  the  fact  in  sea- 
son to  coiTect  the  mischief,  the  trip  would  have 
been  lost,  to  say  nothing  of  a  worse  calamity,  if 
anything  could  be  worse  in  the  estimation  of  the 
major. 

The  pit  under  the  track  where  the  engine  stood 
was  half  filled  with  water,  and  it  was  evident  enough 
to  me  that  my  rascally  fireman  had  uncoupled  the 
connecting  hose  while  I  was  at  dinner,  and  emptied 
the  tanks  in  this  manner.  I  was  provoked,  and 
disposed  to  pitch  into  the  rascal.  But  this  wa.s 
his  last  chance,  I  thought,  and  I  concluded  to 
hoM  my  peace.  The  scoundrel  had  probably  drawn 
off  more  of  the  water  than  he  intended,  or  I  might 
not  have  discovered  the  condition  of  the  tender  in 
season  to  fill  it.  But  the  train  started  on  time,  and 
I  was  fortunate  enough  to  make  the  connection  at 
Ucayga. 

I  had  Tom  "Walton's  appointment  in  my  pocket, 
and  when  we  stopped   at  the   Springs  I  gave  it  to 


264  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OK 

him,  telling  liim  to  be  at  Micldleport  tlie  next  morn- 
ing. This  sharp  movement  had  been  prudently  kept 
from  the  president,  and  I  hoped,  as  he  would  be  ia 
school  when  the  train  started,  that  he  would  not  as- 
certain what  had  been  done  until  my  friend  had 
made  one  or  two  trijjs. 

The  next  morning,  at  half  past  eight,  Lewis  Hol- 
gate  started  the  dummy  for  Ucayga.  He  was  very 
curious  to  know  what  I  was  going  to  do  for  a  fire- 
man ;  but  I  kej)t  Tom  in  the  shade  till  he  was  on 
the  way  to  the  foot  of  the  lake.  There  was  to  be 
an  awful  row  soon  ;  but  I  was  willing  to  postpone 
it  as  long  as  possible.  My  friend  was  faithful  and 
intelligent,  and  before  the  train  reached  Ucayga,  he 
comprehended  his  duties.  I  made  my  time  without 
hurrying  on  this  occasion. 

In  the  afternoon,  just  as  the  Lightning  Express 
was  to  start  on  her  second  trip.  Tommy  rushed  up 
to  the  engine,  looking  as  furious  as  a  lunatic.  At 
Ucayga,  where  the  dummy  waited  till  the  express 
train  had  started,  Lewis  Ilolgate  discovered  who  his 
successor  was.  That  Tom  was  a  friend  of  mine  was 
enough  to  bring  down  uj^on  him  the  wrath  of  the 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  2G5 

president.  With  such  an  assistant,  I  was  not  likely 
to  i^ermit  the  Lightning  Express  to  be  a  failure. 

"What  are  you  doing  on  that  engine?"  demand- 
ed Tommy. 

« I  fire  on  this  engine  now,"  replied  Tom  Walton, 
good-naturedly. 

"Xo,  you  don't!  not  while  I  am  president  of  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad.     Get  off,  and  clear  out!" 

"If  he  leaves,  I  do,"  I  interposed,  quietly;  but 
my  blood  was  uj). 

Tommy  looked  at  me,  and  ground  his  teeth  with 
rage. 


2GG  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OR 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE    PRESIDENT    AND    THE    ENGINEER. 

IN"  five  minutes  it  would  be  time  for  the  Light- 
ning Express  train  to  start,  and  that  was  a  very- 
short  time  in  which  to  fight  the  impending  battle. 
Tommy  was  as  unreasonable  as  a  mule,  and  it  was 
useless  to  attempt  to  conciliate  him.  Besides,  I  was 
tired  of  being  buffeted  by  him.  I  was  ashamed  of 
my  own  servility,  and  much  as  I  liked  my  occupa- 
tion, I  liad  deliberately  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
it  would  be  better  for  me  to  "hire  out"  for  my 
board  and  clothes,  than  be  a  football  for  Tommy's 
capricious  toes.  I  had  always  treated  him  respect- 
fully and  kindly ;  but  he  had  insulted  me  a  dozen 
times  within  a  month. 

"Are  you  the  president  of  the  Lake  Shore  Rail- 
road?" demanded  Tommy,  violently. 

"I  haven't  that  honor,"  I  replied. 


THE   r.IVAL   ACADEmES.  267 

"  Then  it  is  not  for  you  to  say  who  shall  and  who 
shall   not  run   on   the  engine." 

"That  is  very  true;  but  it  is  for  rue  to  say  wheth- 
er I  will  run  on  it  myself  or  not.  Tom  "Walton  was 
regularly  appointed  by  the  superintendent  to  fire  on 
this  engine.     He   does  his  duty  to  my  satisfaction." 

"Who  appointed  him?  I  never  heard  of  his  ap- 
pointment till  half  an  hour  ago." 

Tom  coolly  took  the  letter  of  the  superintendent 
from  his   pocket,  and   exhibited   it  to  the   president. 

"If  tliat  isn't  all  right,  it  isn't  my  fault,"  added 
the   new  fireman. 

"  That  isn't  worth  the  paper  it  is  written  on,"  said 
Tommy,  liis  face  rerl  Avith   Avrath. 

"What's  the  reason  it  isn't?"  inquired  Wether- 
stane.  "  I  wrote  it  and  signed  it,  and  I  am  super- 
intendent of  the  road." 

"Did  you  write  tliat?"  gasped  Tommy. 

"  I  did ;  and  I'm  superintendent  of  the  Lake  Shore 
Raih-oad,"  answered  Wetherstane,  whose  back  was  up. 

"Witliout  consulting  me?" 

"I  didn't  know  thnt  tlie  superintendent  had  to  go 
to  the  president  every  time  a  new  fireman  was  wanted. 


2G8  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,    OR 

If  Tom  Walton  isn't  fireman,  then  I'm  not  superin- 
tendent," 

"  I  won't  have  Tom  Walton  on  the  road,"  fumed 
Tommy,  as  he  glanced  at  the  fireman,  who  looked 
as  good-natured  as  the  quarter  of  an  apple  pie.  "  I'm 
president  of  this  road." 

"And  I'm  sujjerintendent,"   retorted    Wetherstane. 

"Then  I  order  you  to  discharge  Tom  Walton  at 
once.  If  you  appointed  him,  you  did.  Now  dis- 
charge him." 

Wetherstane  saw  that  he  could  not  very  well 
refuse  to  obey  this  order,  since  his  right  to  appoint 
the  obnoxious  fireman   was  not  now  disputed. 

"  I'll  discharge  him  to-night,  if  you  insist  upon  it," 
said  he,  doggedly. 

"I  insist  upon  it  now.  Tom  Walton,  you  are  dis- 
charged," added  the  president. 

"  I  don't  want  to  make  a  row,  and  I  guess  I'll 
be  off","  Avhispered  the  new  fireman  to  me. 

"  You  can't  help  yourself,"  I  replied ;  and  he 
jumped  down  from   the  foot-board. 

"All  aboard!"  shouted  the  gentlemanly  conductor. 

I  let  ofi"  steam,  and  stepped  down  from   the    logo- 


THE    IIIVAL    ACADEMIES.  260 

motive.  The  conductor  made  the  signal  to  start ; 
but  I  did  not  heed  it;  I  had  lost  my  interest  in  the 
Lightning  Express. 

"  All  right !  Go  ahead !  "  said  the  conductor,  im- 
patiently, when  his  signal  was  disregarded. 

"  Jump  on  your  engine,  and  go  ahead,"  added 
Tommy. 

"  I  can't  run  the  engine  without  a  fireman  ;  and  I 
would  not  if  I  could,"  I  replied ;  and  I  felt  that  I 
was  vindicatingc  mvself 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  won't  run  this  train  ? " 
demanded  Tommy. 

"That  is  precisely  what  I  mean.  I  won't  run  it 
without  Tom  Walton.  You  discharged  him  on  pur- 
l)Ose  to  insult  me." 

"  Where's  Faxon  ? "  asked  Tommy,  who  seemed  to 
be  conscious,  at  last,   that  the  train   must  go. 

Faxon  was  in  the  station,  and  appeared  to  ansAver 
to  liis  name. 

"Faxon,  you  will  run  this  train  through,"  contin- 
ued Tommy. 

"1  dun't  know  liow.  I  can  run  the  dummy,  but 
I  don't  know  anything  about  running  a  locomotive," 


2V0  LICUTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

replied  Faxon,  who  was  among  the  number  of  those 
who  were  utterly  disgusted  with  the  tyranny  of  the 
president. 

"  We  are  five  minutes  behind  time  now,"  fretted 
the  conductor,  who  had  come  forward  to  learn  the 
cause  of  the  delay. 

"  Here  comes  Major  Toppleton,"  said  half  a  dozen 
of  the  interested  spectators. 

The  magnate  bustled  into  the  centre  of  the  group, 
and  Tommy  told  him  I  refused  to  run  the  train, 
and  had  taken  that  moment  to  spite  him. 

"My  fireman  has  been  discharged,"  I  replied. 

"  Tom  Walton  !  "  exclaimed  the  major. 

"  Yes,  sir ;   turned  out ! "  laughed  Tom. 

"  This  won't  do,  Tommy,"  said  the  great  man,  pull- 
inor  out  his  watch. 

"  Tom  Walton  can't  run  on  this  train,"  replied  the 
little  president,  decidedly. 

"  Let  him  go  this  trip,  till  we  can  arrange  matters," 
pleaded  the  father. 

"No,  sir;  he  shall  not  put  foot  on  the  engine 
asrain." 

"Cut  we  are  losing  the  trij),"  protested   the  major. 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  271 

"I  can't  help  that." 

"  "Won't  you  run  tins  trip  through  to  oblige  me  ? " 
said   the   magnate,  taking  me  aside. 

"  I  can't  run  it  without  a  fireman,"  I  rcphed.  "  I 
Avill  do  anything  to  obUge  you,  sir;  but  Tommy 
means   to   ruin   me   if  he   can." 

"  Start  the  train,  and  I  will  see  that  Tom  Walton 
is  with  you  as  soon  as  you  will  need  him,"  added 
the  great  man,  in  a  wliisper. 

"I  will,  sir." 

I  jumped  upon  the  engine,  and  started  her,  just 
ten  minutes  behind  the  time.  I  saw  Major  Topple- 
ton  take  Tom  Walton  into  the  forward  car  with 
him,  as  I  opened  the  throttle  valve.  The  president 
also  jumped  upon  the  rear  car,  after  the  train  start- 
ed, as  though  he  suspected  the  pm-pose  of  his  dis- 
obedient father,  and  intended  to  defeat  him.  As 
the  train  went  out  of  the  station,  Tom  crawled 
over  the  tender,  and  took  his  place  on  the  foot- 
board. ^ 

"Tommy  is  rather  rough  on  me,"  said  he,  with 
liis  usual  good-natured   smile. 

"lie  is  rough  on  almost  everybody,  and  the  rough- 


212  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

est  of  all  upon  bis  own  father,"  I  replied,  as  I  let 
on  more  steam.  "Fill  up  the  furnace,  Tom.  We 
are  behind  time,  and  must  make  up  ten  minutes. 
We  will  make  time  as  long  as  we  are  on  the 
eno-ine." 

In  a  few  moments  the  train  was  flying  down  the 
gentle  slope,  and,  by  the  time  we  came  to  the  up 
grade  beyond,  Tom  had  steam  enough  to  do  anything 
of  which  the  engine  was  capable.  I  knew  that  Tom- 
my was  in  one  of  the  cars,  and  I  wondered  that  he 
did  not  stop  the  train,  as  by  this  time  he  must  be 
aware  that  his  father  had  disobeyed  and  evaded  his 
peremptory  mandate.  I  could  hardly  keep  from 
lauo-hin<r  when  I  thought  of  the  magnate  of  Middle- 
port,  so  haughty  and  unyielding  to  others,  bowing 
so  low  to  his  own  son.  It  was  simjDly  ridiculous, 
and  very  ludicrous.  But  I  had  little  doubt  of  the 
ultimate  fate  of  Tom  Walton  and  myself.  The 
world  was  upside  down  on  our  side  of  the  lake, 
and  the  great  man  had  virtually  become  the  little 
man. 

I  was  not  quite  sure  that  Major  Toppleton  could 
help  himself,  after  he  had  so  often  yielded  to  Tommy, 


THE    EIVAL   ACADEillES.  273 

and  thus  encouraged  him  to  insist  upon  having  his 
own  way.  After  abandoning  his  fortress  even  once 
before,  I  did  not  see  how  he  could  hold  it  afterwards. 
But  all  this  was  a  question  between  Tommy  and  his 
father,  and  they  must  fight  it  out  themselves.  My 
self-respect  would  not  any  longer  allow  me  to  be  the 
victim  of  his  petty  tyranny.  Yet  I  have  no  hesita- 
tion in  saying  that  Tommy,  if  his  wilfulness  could 
have  been  subdued,  would  have  been  one  of  the 
best  fellows  in  the  world;  and  the  sequel  of  my 
story  will  justify  my  belief. 

I  had  no  difficulty  in  making  up  the  ten  minutes 
we  had  lost  by  the  president's  unseasonable  demon- 
stration, and  at  a  quarter  to  ten  I  stopped  the  train 
at  tlic  ferry  landing.  I  confess  that  my  heart  beat 
a  lively  tattoo  against  my  ribs,  as  I  saw  the  passen- 
gers hastening  into  the  boat,  for  I  dreaded  a  scene 
with  Tommy  and  his  father.  I  would  have  avoid- 
ed it  if  I  could,  for  I  had  no  taste  for  disturb- 
ances. But  neitlier  Tommy  nor  his  father  appeared 
at  once. 

"Wolf,  I  don't  want  you  to  get  into  trouble  for 
my  sake,"  said  T(jm  Walton.  "  I  am  willing  to 
18 


274  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,    OK 

take  myself  off,  and  let  you  live  in  peace  with 
Tommy." 

•'  Tommy  don't  want  peace  with  me.  Ever  since 
our  affair  at  the  Horse  Shoe,  he  has  been  down  upon 
me,"  I  replied.  "  I  don't  know  how  the  mnjor  pre- 
vailed upon  him  to  let  me  stay  as  long  as  I  have. 
But  he  has  insulted  me  and  domineered  over  me 
in  every  possible  mannei-,  and  I  have  stood  just  as 
much  of  it  as  I  can.  If  you  were  not  a  friend  of 
mine,  Tommy  would  not  object  to   you." 

"  Well,  I  don't  want  to  stand  in  your  way.  Wolf," 
added  Tom. 

"You  don't  stand  in  my  way.  If  you  are  dis- 
charged, it  Avill  be  for  my  sake.  I  lliink  we  had 
better  liang  together.  If  I  can't  hold  this  place  for 
you,  I  may  be  able  to  get  you  another  quite  as 
good." 

"  Thank  you.  Wolf;  you  have  always  been  a  good 
friend,  and  I  will  do  just  Avhat  you  say.  If  you 
think  it  would  be  best  for  me  to  go,  I  want  you 
to  say  so." 

"I  don't  think  so.  My  mind  is  made  up.  If  you 
can't  stay,  I  can't;   and  I  shall  stick  to  my  text  to 


THE    ElVAL   ACADEillES.  275 

the  end  of. time,"  I  replied,  with  sufficient  emphasis 
to  be  understood. 

The  gentlemanly  conductor,  with  the  gold  jewel, 
walked  up  to  the  engine  at  this  moment,  and  inter- 
rupted our  conversation. 

"  There's  going  to  be  the  jolliest  row  you  ever 
heard  of,"  said  he,  chuckling  as  though  he  enjoyed 
the  prospect, 

"AYhere  is  the  president?"  I   asked. 

"He  and  his  governor  are  talking  over  the  mat- 
ter in  the  car.  The  little  gentleman  made  an  awful 
tempest  on  the  train,  and  all  the  passengers  laughed, 
and  enjoyed  the  fun.  The  president  is  going  to 
have  his  own  way,  or  drown  himself  in  the  lake," 
laughed  the  conductor. 

I  learned  that  this  remark  was  "  founded  on 
facts,"  and  it  was  evident  that  Tommy  had  not  for- 
gotten his  old  tricks.  I  stood  on  the  engine,  expect- 
ing the  crash  every  moment;  but  I  was  ready 
for   it. 

Tlie  dummy,  in  charge  of  Lewis  Ilolgate,  stood  on 
the  track  ahead  of  the  locomotive,  ])repaied  to  fol- 
low   our    train.      Tonnny    and    his    father    seemed    to 


27G  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OE 

be  having  a  hard  time  of  it,  for  neither  of  them  had 
appeared  when  the  boat  from  the  other  side  returned, 
and  I  concUided  that  the  scene  was  to  be  deferred 
till  a  more  convenient  season.  As  the  passengers 
were  getting  into  the  cars,  I  saw  the  major  go  on 
board  of  the  steamer,  which  immediately  started  for 
the  other  side.  A  moment  later  Tommy  approached 
the  em^ine,  attended  bv  Lewis  Ilolc-'ate. 

"  Our  time  has  come,  Tom,"  I  whispered  to  my 
companion. 

"  Now,  Tom  "Walton,  you  will  get  off  that  engine, 
or  the  baggage  masters  shall  pitch  you  off,"  began 
the  president. 

"  I  got  off  before  when  you  told  'me,"  rej^lied 
Tom,  huighing.     "I  always  obey  orders." 

"Of  course  you  include  me  in  the  order,"  I 
added. 

"  I  don't  include  you.  Wolf  Penniman ;  but  you 
will  find  that  you  are  not  the  president  of  the  Lake 
Shore  Railroad,  and  can't  dictate  to  me.  If  you 
are  mean  enough  to  leave,  after  all  we  have  done 
for  you,  you  can  do   so." 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  277 

I  \ras  mean  enough  to  leave  after  all  they  bad 
done  for  me,  and  stepped  down  upon  the  platform. 

"Just  as  you  like;  but  don't  let  me  see  you 
round  this  road  again,"  continued  Tommy,  bis  faco 
red  with  anger. 

I  walked  away  with  Tom  Walton. 


f '8  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,  OB 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE   PKESIDENT   HAS   A  FALL. 

I  DO  not  think,  after  all  Tommy's  blustering, 
that  he  believed  I  would  really  leave  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad.  It  was  j^lain 
enough  that  Major  Toppleton  had  been  crowded 
down  in  the  debate  with  his  son,  and  had  yielded 
the  point.  I  supposed  he  had  gone  over  to  Ucayga, 
to  avoid  the  unpleasant  scene  that  was  likely  to 
ensue.  In  this,  however,  I  was  mistaken,  for  I  after- 
wards learned  that  he  had  gone  to  procure  the  ser- 
vices of  an  engineer,  for  he  had  not  much  confidence 
in  the  ability  of  Lewis  Holgate  to  run  the  locomo- 
tive. 

I  bought  two  tickets  for  Middleport  at  the  office, 
ai*d  with  Tom  took  a  seat  in  one  of  the  cars. 
Tommy  was  busy  instructing  Lewis  in  regard  to 
his   duties    on    the    engine,   of   which    he    knew   as 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  279 

little  as  any  person  connected  with  the  road,  and 
he  did  not  follow  my  movements. 

"  Well,  we  are  men  of  leisure  now,  Tom,"  I  re- 
marked, as  we  seated  ourselves. 

"I  have  had  rather  too  much  of  that  sort  of 
thing  lately,  and  I  would  rather  not  be  a  man  of 
leisure,"  answered  Tom,  dryly. 

"  You  will  soon  find  something  to  do,"  I  replied. 

"Is  Lewis  Holarate  croiuor  to  run  this  train?" 

"  I  suppose  so.  Tommy  and  he  are  on  the  best 
of  terms ;  and  I  know  that  Lewis  has  been  trying 
to  use  me  up  for  some  time,  in  order  to  get  my 
place.     I  hope  he  is  satisfied  now." 

"Docs  he  understand  the  business?"  asked  Tom, 
curiously. 

"  lie  did  very  well  on  the  dummy ;'  but  he  is  too 
careless  to  be  relied  on.  I  don't  think  he  undor- 
Btands  a  locomotive.  lie  hasn't  his  thoughts  about 
him  always.     But  I  hope  he  will  do  well." 

The  train  started,  and  dragged  at  a  snail's  ymce 
for  a  mile.  I  realized  from  the  motion  that  the 
engineer  did  not  feel  at  home  on  the  foot-board, 
for   it   was   attended    by    frequent  jerks,    and   by   as 


280  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OB 

frequent  slacking  of  the  speed.  When  the  con- 
ductor picked  up  the  tickets,  he  told  me  Lewis 
had  with  hiui  on  the  foot-board  a  man  from  the 
steamer,  so  that  he  could  not  have  been  embar- 
rassed by  having  too  much  to  do.  At  Grass  Springs 
we  were  ten  minutes  behind  time ;  but  Lewis  did 
better  on  the  next  stretch,  which  was  level  and 
sti'aight ;  but  even  here  he  was  losing  time,  and 
it  was  fortunate  that  the  boat  would  wait  at  Mid- 
dleport  until  the  arrival  of  the  train. 

After  we  passed  the  Springs  I  saw  Tommy  stalk- 
ing through  the  car,  and  coming  towards  me.  I 
pitied  him  much  more  than  I  should  if  he  had 
been  defeated  .in  his  jiurpose,  for  success  to  him 
was  ruin.  In  spite  of  all  he  had  done  to  vex  and 
annoy  me,  I  tried  to  harbor  no  ill  will  against  him. 
lie  knew  that  the  train  was  behind  time,  and  that 
it  was  still  losing.  I  had  no  doubt  that  the  fact 
vexed  him.  It  seemed  to  me  that  an  ojiportunity 
presented  itself  by  which  I  could  show  him  that 
I  had  no  ill  feelings  towards  him.  I  wished  still 
to  carry  out  the-  good  principles  which  my  mother 
had    taught    me ;    and,   as   the    little    president    ap- 


THE    EITAL    ACADEMIES.  281 

proached  my  seat,  I  promptly  decided  that  I  would 
ride  on  the  engine  the  rest  of  the  way,  and  give 
Lewis  such  instructions  as  he  evidently  needed.  I 
meant  to  do  this,  hoping  it  would  make  things  a 
little  pleasanter  between  us. 

"Tommy,  I  suppose  you  see  that  Lewis  is  losing 
time,"  said  I,  as  he  halted  in  the  aisle,  and  stared 
at  me  as  savagely  as  though  I  had  been  a  snake 
in  his  path. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ? "  demanded  he. 

"  I  was  going  to  say,  if  I  could  be  of  any  ser- 
vice, I  would  ride  on  the  engine  with  Lewis,  and 
show  him  how  to  run  it." 

"  I  guess  not,"  said  he,  shaking  his  head.  "  "What 
are  you  doing  here?" 

"  I'm  going  home,"  I  replied,  not  comprehending 
what  he  was  driving  at. 

"Didn't  I  tell  you  never  to  let  me  sec  you  about 
this  road  again?"  continued  he,  with  imperial  majes- 
ty, and,  I  may  add,  with  lion-like  ferocity. 

"  I  believe  you  did ;  but  I  am  going  home,  and 
the  railroad  is  now  the  only  conveyance  up  tlio 
lake." 


282  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,   OK 

"  How  dare  you  disobey  me  ? "   stormed  he. 

"I  was  not  aware  that  I  had  disobeyed  you." 

"  What  are  you  on  this  train  for,  then  ? " 

"But  I  paid  my  fare,  and  Tom  Walton's  too,"  I 
replied. 

"I  don't  care  if  you  did!  After  what  has  hap- 
pened, I  won't  have  you  on  the  road." 

"Even  Centreporters  are  allowed  to  ride  on  the 
road  by  paying  their  fare." 

"  No  matter  if  they  are  ;  you  can't." 

"After  I  get  home,  I  won't  trouble  you  or  the 
road,"  I  added,  mildly. 

"  But  you  won't  get  home  on  this  road,"  said 
he,  seizing  the  connecting  line  which  ran  through 
all  the  cars  to  the  engine,  and  giving  it  a  violent 
twitch. 

Lewis  Holgate,  unfortunately  for  me,  understood 
this  signal,  and  whistled  to  put  on  the  brakes.  The 
conductor  was  counting  his  tickets  at  the  end  of  the 
car,  and  came  forward  to  witness  the  scene.  The 
train  came  to  a  halt. 

"  Now,  Wolf  Penniman,  out  with  you ! "  said 
Tommy,  fixing  a  savage  gaze  upon  me. 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  283 

« I  don't  wish  to  make  any  trouble,  Tommy  ;  but 
I  have  paid  my  fare,  and  I  intend  to  ride  to  Mid- 
dleport,"  I  rephed,  as  calmly  as  I  could,  though  my 
blood  was  boiling  with  indignation  at  the  gratui- 
tous insults  heaped  upon  me. 

"Good,  my  boy!  Don't  budge  an  inch,"  said 
a  respectable-looking  gentleman  in  the  seat  be- 
hind me. 

"  Mind  your  own  business ! "  snapped  Tommy  to 
the  speaker. 

"What,  you  young  puppy!"  said  the  gentleman, 
springing  to  his  feet.  "Don't  you  give  me  a  word 
of  impudence!  If  you  do,  I'll  thrash  you  Avithin 
an  inch  of  your  life !  " 

This  was  not  exactly  the  kind  of  customer  Tom- 
my liked  to  deal  with,  for  there  was  fight  in  the 
stranger's  eye ;  but  he  was  just  the  person  whom 
Tommy's  case  required. 

"Are  you  going  to  get  out,  "Wolf  Penniman,  or 
are  you  going  to  be  put  out?"  added  the  presi- 
dent, turning  from  the  stranger  to  me. 

"  I'm  not  going  to  get  out,  and  it  remains  to  be 
seen  whether  I'm  going  to  be  put  out." 


284  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

"He  has  paid  his  fare,"  suggested  the  gentleman- 
ly conductor,  in  a  low  tone. 

"  Give  him  back  his  money,  then." 

I  refused  to  take  it,  and  the  belligerent  gentle- 
man urged  me  not  to  budge  an  inch. 

"Put  him  out,  conductor,"  said  Tommy. 

"If  you  put  him  out,  you  must  put  me  out," 
suggested  Tom  Walton,  with  one  of  his  broad, 
good-natured  laughs. 

"Put  them  both  out!"  stormed  Tommy. 

"I  shall  be  prosecuted,  if  I  do,  for  assault  and 
battery." 

"That's  so,"  growled  the  gentleman  behind  me. 

"  I'll  see  you  through,"  interposed  Tommy,  violently. 

"  This  thing  has  gone  far  enough,"  said  the  stran- 
ger, rising  in  his  seat.  "  This  road  was  chartered 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  public.  These  two 
young  men  have  paid  their  fare,  and  have  behaved 
themselves  properly  in  the  car.  I  say,  for  one,  they 
shall  not  be  put  out." 

"  So  say  we  all  of  us ! "  shouted  several  of  the 
passengers,  who  were  annoyed  by  the  delay ;  and 
most  of  them  understood  the  merits  of  the  case. 


TUE   KIVAL   ACADEMIES.  285 

"  Xow,  conductor,  start  your  train,  and  don't  keep 
us  waiting  here  all  day,"  added  the  gentleman. 

"  Go  ahead  ! "  shouted  some  of  the  passengers. 

"You  can't  go  ahead  till  these  fellows  are  put 
out,"  replied  Tommy,  who  seemed  to  feel  that  he 
had  the  weather-gage  in  the  dispute. 

"Go  ahead!"  "Go  ahead!"  cried  the  passen- 
gers. 

"  Why  don't  you  put  them  out,  as  I  tell  you  ? " 
said  Tommy  to  the  conductor. 

"  If  you  say  so,  I  will,  whatever  happens,"  replied 
the  conductor. 

"  I  do  say  so  ! " 

The  proprietor  of  the  gold  jewel  put  his  hand 
upon  my  collar ;  but  he  had  hardly  done  so  before 
my  belligerent  friend  did  him  a  similar  service,  and 
jerked  him  away  from  me.  Other  passengers  crowd- 
ed forward. 

"  It's  an  outrage !  Bully  for  the  young  engineer," 
shouted  the  noisiest  of  tlie  crowd. 

Tlie  conductor  was  iiitiinidated.  lie  had  no  heart 
in  the  job  ho  had  undertaken,  and  he  gave  u[)  wilh 
uo  blipw  of  light. 


'2SQ  LIGHTNING   EXPEESS,    OR 


"  Now  go  ahead ! "  said  the  belligerent  stranger. 
"  We  won't  submit  to  any  outrage  here." 

"  This  train  won't  start  till  those  joersons  are  put 
out  of  the  car,"  added  Tommy. 

"Won't  it?" 

"No,  it  won't.  I'm  the  jorcsident  of  this  road," 
replied  Tommy. 

"  Are  you  ?  Well,  this  train's  going  ahead,"  added 
the  strano-er. 

To  my  astonishment,  he  seized  the  distinguished 
little  functionary  by  the  collar,  and  dragged  him 
towards  the  door.  The  conductor  attempted  to 
interfere ;  but  the  passengers,  among  whom  there 
were  hardly  a  dozen  Middleporters,  crowded  upon 
him,  and  prevented  him  from  doing  anything. 

"Out  with  him!"  "Out  with  him!"  called  the 
indignant  passengers,  not  a  few  of  whom  were  Cen- 
treporters. 

The  stout  stranger  landed  Tommy  on  the  ground, 
and  then,  by  a  dexterous  movement,  pitched  him 
down  the  steep  bank  to  the  beach  on  the  siiore  of 
the  lake.  If  the  president  of  the  road  was  never 
astonished  before,  he  was  astonished  then.     IIo^  had 


■■I    vAi; 


/r1 


11       ii.i:. 
..1,      .|,,, 


1 1'  '  I   ''if'    'V  ■■■  '\ 


G 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  287 

discovered  that  his  lordly  will,  though  it  carried 
terror  into  his  own  family,  could  not  accomplish 
much  among  the  general  public. 

"Now  go  ahead!"  said  the  gentleman,  as  he 
stepped  into  the  car. 

"I  can't  go  Avithout  the  president,"  rephed  the 
conductor. 

"Then  go  with  him!"  yelled  a  stout  fellow,  who, 
I  think,  had  drank  more  liquor  than  was  good  for 
him,  as  he  seized  the  gentlemanly  official,  and 
hustled  him  alter  the  president. 

Some  one  pulled  the  string ;  but  the  train  did 
not  start.  I  looked  out  the  window,  I  was  sorry 
to  see  that  Tommy  appeared  to  be  hurt,  for  he 
sat  on  the  ground,  rubbing  one  of  his  legs.  The 
conductor  went  to  his  assistance.  Lewis  Holgate 
now  appeared,  and  I  told  the  stranger  he  was  the 
engineer. 

"  Will  you  go  ahead  now  ? "  demanded  my  xm- 
compromising  friend. 

"What's  the  row  here?"  inquired  Lewis. 

lie    was   informed  j    but,   instead   of   going   ahead, 


288  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,    OK 

he  went  clown  to  the  i:)\nce  where  Tommy  and 
the  conductor  were.  Several  of  the  passengers  got 
out,  ancT  went  forward  to  the  engine.  Half  a  dozen 
of  them  beset  me  with  entreaties  to  run  the  train 
up  to  Middleport ;  hut  I  jiositively  refused.  In- 
deed, I  was  thinking  of  going  to  the  assistance 
of  the  disabled  president,  though  I  was  sure  my 
services  would  not  be  welcome,  when  the  train 
started.  The  passengers  crowded  in,  and  it  was 
evident  that  some  one  had  taken  possession  of  the 
engine. 

"  Here's  a  pretty  kettle  of  fish ! "  said  Tom 
Walton. 

"  I'm  sorry  for  it ;  but  I  can't  help  it.  I  have 
as  much  right  to  ride  on  this  road  as  any  one  else," 
I  replied. 

"We  are  going  it  now,"  added  Tom,  as  the 
train  began  to  leap  forward  at  the  rate  of  thirty 
miles  an  hour. 

"Don't  you  submit  to  any  imposition,  young 
man.  I've  heard  all  about  your  case,  and  if  you 
want  any  help,  call  on  me,"  said  my  belligerent 
supporter. 


THE    ElVAL    ACADEMIES.  28ft 

I  tbankcJ  him,  and  he  gave  me  his  card, 
which  I  deposited  in  ray  wallet.  The  new  en- 
gineer understood  his  business,  and  in  less  than 
half  an  hour  we  entered  the  station  at  Middle- 
port. 

19 


200  LIGHTJ^IJ^a   EXPRESS,   OB 


CHAPTER  XXV- 

THE    PEESIDENT    IN    TROUBLE. 

I  HAD  not  waited  to  ascertain  the  condition  of 
Tommy  Toppleton.  I  had  seen  the  stout  stran- 
ger pitch  him  down  the  bank.  The  gentlemanly- 
conductor  had  rushed  down  after  him,  to  render 
whatever  assistance  he  might  require.  Lewis  Hol- 
gate  liad  left  the  engine  to  sympathize  with  his 
powerful  young  friend.  My  occupation  was  gone ; 
but  I  felt  a  certain  pride  and  satisfaction  in  hav- 
ing, stood  up  for  ray  rights.  I  had  not  allowed 
Tommy  to  tread  upon  me  this  time,  and  I  felt 
more  like  a  man  than  I  had  ever  felt  before. 

I  wish  to  add,  to  some  of  my  unreasoning  young 
friends,  that  I  felt  an  equal  pride  and  satisfaction 
in  the  Ihct  that  I  had  so  often  submitted.  I  had 
not  made  haste  to  get  into  a  row,  and  it  was  just 
as  pleasant  to  think  of  what  I  had   endured,  as  of 


THE   EIVAL   ACADEMIES.  291 

the  resistance  I  had  macle  to  oppression.  If  Tom- 
my had  been  even  tolerably  reasonable,  there  could 
have  been  no  trouble.  It  was  a  very  agreeable 
reflection  that  I  had  not  been  forward  in  making 
issue  with  my  imperious  young  master.  If  he  had 
not  been  laboring  to  ruin  me,  I  think  I  could  even 
have  borne  his  insults. 

I  was  very  curious  to  know  what  construction 
Major  Toppleton  wonld  put  upon  my  conduct  3Iy 
gratitude  to  him  made  me  anxious  to  retain  his 
good  opinion,  and  I  had  submitted  to  much  for 
his  sake.  He  certainly  could  not  blame  me  for 
what  I  had  done.  I  had  merely  refused  to  be 
])Ut  out  of  the  cars  f.fter  I  had  paid  my  fare.  I 
liad  simply  rebelled  against  an  exhibilion  of  i»etty 
malice,  as  contemptible  as  it  was  unreasonaljle.  But, 
after  all,  it  was  not  safe  to  pi-edict  what  the  mag- 
nate of  Middleport  would  do  when  his  son  was 
involved  in  the  affair,  for  the  father  was  quite  as 
much  a  victim  of  the  young  gentleman's  tyranny 
as  I  was. 

The    stout    stranger   was    on    his    way    to    Ilitaca, 
and   he  went  on  board  the  steamer  to  continue  his 


292  LIGHTXING   EXPRESS,   OE 

journey.  Of  course  there  was  a  great  deal  of  s:i:« 
cited  talk  about  the  incident  of  the  day,  and  ol;' 
the  dozen  Middleporters  on  board,  those  who  L^>j 
the  courage  to  say  anything  condemned  Tommy 
and  upheld  me.  I  thought  I  was  safe  enough ; 
and  perhaps  I  should  have  been,  if  exciting  news 
had  not  come  down  from  the  scene  of  the  affair. 

The  engineer  who  had  taken  possession  of  the 
locomotive  let  off  the  steam  ;  and  being  on  his  v/ay 
ujj  the  lake,  he  abandoned  the  machine.  As  there 
was  no  one  to  take  charge  of  it,  Wetherstane,  the 
superintendent,  asked  me  to  run  it  into  the  engine- 
house,  which  I  did.  I  had  been  duly  discharged, 
and  it  was  not  jjroper  for  me  to  do  anything  more. 
I  walked  home  with  Tom  "Walton,  and  we  dis- 
cussed the  matter  as  thoroughly  as  the  occasion 
required. 

"  How  do  you  suppose  it's  coming  out,  Wolf? " 
asked  Tom,  as  good-naturedly  as  ever,  but  still 
anxiously. 

"I  haven't  the  least  idea,"  I  replied.  "I  have 
yielded  as  long  as  I  could,  and  I  am  willing  to 
take  the  consequence." 


THE    RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  293 

I  felt  that  I  was  not  likely  to  be  a  martyr  as 
long  as  Colonel  Wimpleton  kept  his  offer  of  a 
place  on  the  new  steamer  open  to  me,  Avith  the 
promise  of  a  man's  wages. 

"If  I  were  the  major,  I  should  rebel  against 
Tommy  a  little,  just  to  see  how  it  would  seem," 
laughed  Tom  Walton.  "  Don't  it  look  strange  that 
a  great  man  like  him  —  I  mean  the  major — should 
be  such  a  fool  as  to  let  his  son  have  his  own 
way  ?  " 

"  It  is  strange ;  but  I  have  learned  that  Major 
Toppleton  is  more  afraid  of  Tommy  than  of  all 
the  rest  of  the  world." 

"If  my  mother  should  let  me  have  my  own 
way  like  that,  I  couldn't  respect  her.  I  should 
tliink  the  major  would  turn  over  a  new  leaf,  and 
be  a  free  man." 

"  He  is  his  own  master  —  " 

"  Not  much  ! "  exclaimed  Tom,  interrupting  rac ; 
"  Tommy  is  master  here." 

"  Well,  he  has  the  right  to  obey  his  son,  if  he 
chooses  to  do  so,"  I  added.  "  I  don't  know,  but  I 
can't    lielp   thinking   that   this    matter    has   come   to 


294  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OR 

a  head  now.  Major  Toppleton  wants  me  to  run 
the  engine,  and  Tommy  don't  want  me  to  do  it. 
I  hope  the  thing  will  be  settled  to-day." 

It  was  settled  that  day. 

I  went  home,  and  pretty  soon  my  father  came 
to  his  dinner.  He  had,  of  course,  been  my  con- 
fidant in  all  the  matters  relating  to  my  quarrel 
with  Tommy.  I  told  him  all  about  the  stirring 
events  of  the  morning,  after  we  sat  down  to  din- 
ner; and  he  was  so  interested  that  he  neglected 
to  toucli  the  food  before  him  till  he  had  heard 
the  whole  of  it. 

"  Have  I  done  wrong,  father  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Certainly  not.  You  couldn't  have  done  any- 
thing else.  You  live  here,  and  the  railroad  is  now 
the  only  way  for  you  to  come  up  the  lake.  You 
paid  your  fare,  and  they  had  no  more  right  to  put 
you  off  the  cars  than  they  had  to  throw  you  into 
the  lake,"  he  replied,  warmly. 

I  ought  to  add  here,  that  my  relations  with  the 
road  had  been  discussed  every  day,  and  often  two 
or  three  times  a  day.  My  father,  and  my  mother 
especially,   had    cautioned    me   not   to   be   impulsive, 


THE    KIVAL    ACADEMIES.  295 

and  not  to  resist  while  it  was  decent  to  submit. 
Our  obligations  to  Major  Toppleton  were  acknowl- 
edged, and  all  of  us  were  very  anxious  to  keep  the 
peace  with  him. 

"  I  don't  see  how  Major  Toi^pleton  can  uphold 
that  boy  any  longer,"  added  my  mother. 

"I  don't  see  how  he  ever  could  do  it,"  said  my 
father.  "  But  that  is  his  business,  not  mine.  I 
don't  think  we  make  much,  however,  by  trying  to 
keep  on  the  right  side  of  these  rich  men  by  sacri- 
ficing our  own  self-respect.  I  am  thankful  that  the 
major  does  not  hold  the  mortgage  on  my  house." 

"I  suppose  he  could  get  it,  if  he  wanted  it,"  sug- 
gested my  mother. 

"Well,  it  has  two  years  to  run,  whoever  has  it; 
and  as  long  as  I  pay  the  interest,  we  shall  be  safe 
enough,"  continued  my  father.  "  I  am  thankful  we 
are  not  in  such  a  scrape  as  we  were  on  the  other 
side  of  the  lake." 

We  ate  our  dinner  in  peace,  in  spite  of  the  storm 
which  had  raged  without.  My  flithor  was  in  deep 
thought,  and  it  was  not  difficult  to  conjecture  the 
subject   of   his   meditations.      Doubtless   he   congrat' 


296  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

ulated  himself  most  heartily  that  it  was  not  in  the 
power  of  either  of  the  magnates  to  harass  and 
annoy  him.  The  major  could  discharge  us  both, 
and  even  make  Middleport  too  warm  to  contain 
ns ;  but  the  colonel  was  ready  to  receive  us  both 
with  open  arms.  It  seemed  just  as  though  I  was 
a  shuttlecock,  to  be  batted  back  and  forth  from 
one  side  of  the  lake  to  the  other  at  the  Avill  and 
pleasure  of  the  mighty  men  who  ruled  the  neigh- 
borhood. 

But  I  had  some  hope  that  Major  Toppleton  would 
sustain  me,  or  at  least  that  he  would  not  persecute 
our  family,  even  if  he  yielded  to  the  caprices  of 
his  son.  Whatever  mischief  had  been  done,  I  had 
not  done  it,  though  I  had  been  the  indirect  cause 
of  it.  I  had  not  stopped  the  train  ;  I  had  not  put 
Tommy  out  of  the  car ;  I  had  not  pitched  him 
down  the  bank.  If  these  things  had  been  done 
on  my  behalf,  I  had  no  agency  in  them.  The  in- 
dignant passengers,  who  were  detained  by  the  whim 
of  the  little  president,  had  been  the  responsible 
actors,  and  I  had  no  doubt  the  stout  stranger  was 
ready  to  answer  for  his  conduct.     Whether  he  was 


THE    KIVAL    ACADEMIES.  297 

or  not,  this  was  not  my  affair,  I  bad  bis  card  in 
my  pocket;  but  so  far  as  I  could  ascertain,  no  one 
knew  anything  about  bim.  I  regarded  him  as  a 
person  of  some  consequence. 

We  finished  our  dinner,  and  my  father  was  on 
the  point  of  returning  to  the  mill,  when  Tom  Wal- 
ton rushed  into  the  kitchen,  out  of  breath  with 
running.  Ilis  appearance  indicated  that  some  un- 
usual event  bad  occurred,  for  my  friend  was  one 
of  the  cool  sort,  and  not  easily  stirred  by  small 
matters. 

"  The  dummy  has  just  come  in,"  exclaimed  Tom, 
in  the  intervals  between  his  rapid  breathing. 

"Well,  what  of  it?"  I  inquired,  not  deeming 
this  very  startling  intelligence. 

"  Tommy  Toppleton's  leg  is  broken,"  gasped  Tom. 

"  Broken  ! "  I  exclaimed. 

"  Snapped  off,  like  a  iiij^e-stem,  below  the  knee, 
they  say." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that,"  I  added ;  and  I  almost 
wished  it  had  been  my  leg,  instead  of  the  little 
tyrant's. 

"  His  father  is  the  maddest  man  that  ever  drew 
the  breath  of  life." 


298  LIGHTNING    EXPRESS,    OR 

"I  dare  say,"  said  my  father,  shaking  his  head. 

"  How  did  it  happen  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Why,  that  stout  man  did  it  when  he  pitched 
him  down  the  bank,"  answered  Tom.  "  I'll  bet  it 
will  cost  that  man  a  penny  or  two.  That's  what 
they  say  up  to  the  station." 

"  I  will  go  up  and  see  about  it,"  I  added,  taking 
my  hat. 

"You!"  ejaculated  Tom,  with  a  stare  of  aston- 
ishment. 

"Why  not?" 

"  If  you  know  what  you  are  about,  you  will 
keep  out  of  the  way,"  suggested  Tom,  with  sig- 
nificant emphasis. 

"  I  haven't  done  anything  that  I  am  ashamed 
of,"  I  replied.  "I  am  not  afraid  to  see  the  major, 
and  tell  him  the  whole  story.  I'm  sorry  for  Tom- 
my's misfortune,  but  it  is  all  his  own  fault." 

"  Face  the  music.  Wolf,"  said  my  father.  "  Xo 
one  ever  makes  anything  by  skulking  in  the  dark. 
You  have  a  tongue,  and  you  can  explain  your  own 
conduct  better  than  any  one  can  do  it  for  you." 

"But  they  are  all  down  upon  you  like  a  hundred 


THE    KIVAL    ACADEMIES.  299 

of  brick,  Wolf,"  continued  Tom,  who  was  fearful 
that  I  might  be  lynched  in  the  excitement  which 
he  said  prevailed  in  the  vicinity  of  the  major's 
house. 

"I  can't  help  it.  When  I  was  insulted,  I  did 
not  resist  nor  make  any  row." 

"  But  you  left  your  train  at  the  time  it  ought  to 
have  started,"  said  Tom. 

"I  should  not  have  done  so  if  the  president  had 
not  taken  that  time  to  insult  me.  It  was  not  neces- 
sary for  him  to  discharge  my  fireman  at  such  a  time. 
But  no  matter  for  all  this;  I  am  going  up  to  Major 
Toppleton's  house.  It  he  chooses  to  kick  me  out, 
lie  may  do  so." 

I  could  not  help  feeling  that  my  chances  of  a 
fair  hearing  at  such  a  time  Avere  very  small,  but  I 
could  not  have  kei:)t  away  from  the  centre  of  the 
excitement  if  I  had  tried.  I  must  know  uiy  fate, 
whatever  it  might  be. 


800  LIGHTJSING   EXPRESS,  OR 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE    NEAV    STEAMER. 

OWEVEE,  much  Tommy  Toppleton  deserved 
the  fate  which  had  befallen  him,  I  really- 
pitied  him.  I  am  sure  that  not  a  single  emotion 
of  triumph  had  a  place  in  my  heart.  I  neither 
said  nor  thought  that  it  served  him  right.  I  was 
sorry  for  him,  and  my  regret  was  entirely  unselfish. 
The  only  personal  consideration  that  disturbed  me 
was  the  reflection  that  I  must  in  the  future  be  en- 
tirely banished  from  the  presence  of  Grace  Topple- 
ton. I  had  not  the  impudence,  boy  of  sixteen  as 
I  was,  to  believe  that  I  was  in  love  with  her.  If 
such  a  thought  had  entered  my  head,  the  wide 
difference  between  her  social  position  and  mine 
would  have  driven  it  out. 

I  was   deeply  interested   in   her   as  a  friend.     She 
had    been    very    kind    and    considerate    towards    me. 


THE    EIVAL    ACADEMIES.  301 

She  had  treated  me  with  respect  and  regard,  and 
did  not  seem  to  think  that  I  was  not  her  equal  in 
the  social  scale.  I  never  spoke  to  her,  and  never 
even  thought  of  her,  except  Avith  a  respect  border- 
ing upon  reverence.  I  was  content  to  stand  off  at 
a  proper  distance  and  admire  her  pretty  face,  her 
graceful  form,  and  her  gentle  manners.  I  thouglit 
hhe  was  an  angel ;  uot  merely  because  she  was 
beautiful  in  person,  but  because  her  pure  heart  and 
kind  manners  seemed  to  elevate  her  far  above  tho 
low  and  selfish  lives  of  those  around  her. 

By  the  time  I  reached  the  mansion  of  Major 
Toppleton,  the  excitement  hud  in  a  measure  sub- 
sided. The  bone  of  Tommy's  leg  had  been  set, 
but  he  was  suffering  severe  pain.  It  appeared  that 
the  major  had  jirocured  the  services  of  an  engineer 
at  Ucayga,  who  Iiad  run  the  dummy  up  from  that 
jioint,  starting  only  half  an  hour  behind  the  Light- 
ning Express.  Arriving  at  tlie  place  where  the  im- 
])eriou3  little  president  hud  stopped  our  train,  tho 
magnate  found  the  conductor  and  Lewis  Ilolgato 
bearing  Tommy  towards  the  nearest  house.  lie  was 
placed  in  the   dummy  and  brought  home. 


302  LIGHTNIXG   EXPRESS,    OR 

Of  course  Lewis  and  the  conductor  told  their  own 
story,  and  I  was  represented  as  the  wickedest  fellow 
in  that  part  of  the  country.  All  the  mischief  had 
been  done  by  me ;  and  as  Tommy  lay  writhing  in 
agony,  my  sins  became  as  mountains  in  the  eyes 
of  his  father.  Tommy  was  a  saint  then,  and  I 
was  a  demon. 

I  went  to  the  side  door  of  the  mansion  and  rans 
the  bell.  The  servant  Avho  opened  the  door  be- 
stowed upon  me  a  look  of  positive  horror.  I  in- 
quired for  Major  Toppleton,  and  was  shown  into 
the  library,  where  I  had  so  often  before  conferred 
with  the  great  man.  As  I  was  entering  the  room, 
Grace  crossed  the  hall,  and  discovered  me. 

"O,  Mr.  Wolf!  Why  did  you  come  here?"  ex- 
claimed she ;  "  my  father  is  terribly  incensed  against 
you." 

"I   have    only   done   what   I   thought    was    right, 
Miss   Grace,"   I   replied.       "  I   did    not    even    know 
that  Tommy  was  hurt,  till  a  few  moments  ago." 
"Father  says  you  were  the  cause  of  it." 
"  I  was  not  —  at  least,  not  intentionally." 
"I  know  you  were  not.     Whatever   happens,  Mr. 
Wolf,  we  shall  bo  friends." 


TOE   ETVAL    ACADEMIES.  303 

To  my  astonishraeut  slic  extended  her  pretty, 
white  hand,  and  I  took  it.  It  -svas  her  good  by 
to  me. 

"I  know  you  would  not  do  any  wrong,  Mr. 
"Wolf,"  she  continued;  "and  I  wish  Tommy  was 
like  you." 

She  gently  shook  my  hand,  and  left  the  room. 
"Whatever  her  flither  tliought,  she  understood  the 
situation  williout  any  explanation.  She  had  hardlv 
left,  the  room  before  her  father  came  in.  lie  looked 
ngly  and  remorseless,  as  he  had  never  before  been 
to  me. 

"  Have  you  the  impudence  to  come  here,  after 
what  has  happened,  Wolf?"  said  he,  with  a  heavy 
frown. 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  consider  it  impudence,  sir. 
I  did  not  know  that  Tommy  was  hurt  till  a  little 
while  ago,"  I  replied,  as  meekly  as  the  occasion 
required.  "I  am  very  sorry  indeed  that  anything 
has  happened." 

"Don't  be  a  hypocrite.  Wolf ! " 

"  I  am  not,  sir ;  I  am  truly  sorry  that  Tommy 
was  hurt." 


304  LTGHTNIXG   EXPRESS,    OB 

"  You  are  the  cause  of  all  this ;  and  if  you  had 
broken  his  leg  yourself,  you  would  not  have  been 
more  to  blame." 

"You  have  always  been  veiy  kind  to  me,  and 
you  cannot  understand  the  matter,  or  you  would 
not  say  that." 

"  I  understand  it  very  well.  I  think,  after  all  I 
have  done  for  you,  I  had  a  right  to  expect  some- 
thing better  from  you.  You  insisted  upon  crossing 
and  vexing  Tommy." 

"  He  was  very  unreasonable,  and  I  could  not  sub- 
mit any  longer.  I  paid  my  fare  in  the  cars,  and 
there  was  no  other  way  for  me  to  get  home." 

"  That's  enough.  You  needn't  attempt  to  explain 
it.  Pei'haps  Tommy  was  wrong;  I  don't  say  that 
he  was  not.  But  it  was  not  for  you  to  make 
trouble." 

«I  don't  think  I  made  it,  sir." 

"I  think  you  did.  No  more  words.  You  have 
abused  my  good  nature.  I  don't  want  to  see  you 
again.  You  and  your  father  are  both  discharged, 
and  the  sooner  you  leave  Middleport,  the  better 
you  will  suit  me." 


THE    PaVAL   ACADEMIES.  305 

I  afterwards  ascertained  that  Tommy  liad  insisted, 
even  in  the  midst  of  his  agony,  that  my  father  and 
I  should  be  immediately  discharged.  Grace  tohl  me 
this  when  I  met  her  on  the  lake  a  few  weeks  later 
in  the  season.  She  said  it  to  defend  her  father, 
who,  arbitrary  as  he  was,  had  some  well-defined 
ideas  of  justice. 

I  took  my  cap  and  left  the  house,  after  an  attempt 
to  declare  that  I  felt  no  ill-will  towards  the  major, 
who,  however,  would  not  permit  me  to  finish  tlie 
sentence.  The  catastrophe  had  come.  The  hint 
tliat  the  sooner  our  family  left  Middleport,  the  bet- 
ter it  would  suit  the  magnate,  seemed  to  indicate 
an  intention  on  his  part  to  drive  us  out  of  the 
town.  When  I  reached  home,  I  found  my  father 
there.  The  mandate  dismissing  him  had  already 
been  sent  to  him.  We  talked  the  matter  over  for 
a  time ;  and  while  we  both  regretted  Tommy's  mis- 
fortune, we  agreed  tliat  it  would  be  better  for  both 
of  us  to  work  for  half  the  wages  we  liad  been 
receiving,  rather  tlian  be  the  slaves  of  the  little 
magnate. 

For  my  own  part,  I  felt  that  I  had  borne  enough 
20 


306  LIGHTNING   EXl'KESS,    OK 

from  Tommy.  I  was  willing  to  be  tried  on  thu 
facts  of  the  case,  for  I  think  no  one  will  say  that 
I  ought  to  have  submitted  to  being  put  out  of 
the  cars,  after  I  had  paid  my  fare,  just  to  gratify 
the  petty  malice  of  the  little  tyrant.  I  had  done 
my  duty  faithfully,  even  while  the  president  of 
the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  had  been  willing  to  sac- 
rifice the  interest  of  the  concern  for  the  sake  of 
ruining  me. 

In  the  afternoon,  when  it  was  time  for  the  train 
to  arrive  from  Ucayga,  I  went  to  the  station.  The 
Lightning  Express  had  not  appeared,  and  it  did 
not  come  till  half  an  hour  behind  time.  In  spite 
of  his  sufferings.  Tommy  still  felt  an  interest  in 
the  outside  Avorld,  and  insisted  that  Lewis  Holgate 
should  have  the  locomotive.  Ilis  father  could  not 
deny  his  request,  though  he  knew'  that  Lewis  was 
incompetent.  The  engineer,  whom  the  major  had 
engaged,  refused  to  serve  as  fireman  under  a  boy, 
and  the  steamboat  hand  was  retained  in  this  posi- 
tion. The  trains  east  and  west  had  waited  that 
day  for  the  Lightning  Express,  or  the  passengers 
would  have  been  compelled  to  lie  over. 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES.  307 

The  next  day,  Lewis  did  a  little  better ;  but  in 
the  course  of  the  week  he  was  behind  time  twice ; 
and  once  the  conductors  ou  the  other  lines  refused 
to  wait.  But  Tommy  obstinately  declined  to  per- 
mit his  friend  to  be  superseded  by  the  expeiieiicec) 
engineer  who  ran  the  dummy.  Lewis  declared  that 
it  was  not  his  fault  that  the  train  was  behind  time ; 
but  I  knew  that  he  was  lacking  in  judgment.  He 
did  not  understand  when  to  ease  off  the  machine 
and  when  to  crowd  on  the  steam.  lie  had  no 
talent  or  fitness  for  his  occupation. 

I  had  made  up  my  mind  not  to  apply  to  Colonel 
Wimpleton  for  any  situation.  If  he  wished  to  em- 
]iloy  me,  and  to  redeem  some  of  his  large  promises, 
lie  knew  that  I  was  out  of  a  situation,  and  he  could 
Bend  for  me.  I  did  not  mean  to  begin  by  cringing 
to  him.  I  suppose,  after  the  first  impulses  of  grati- 
tude subsided,  some  of  the  old  feeling  of  malice 
towards  me  came  back  to  him.  It  is  very  likely 
that  Waddie,  who  had  never  forgiven  me  for  de- 
ranging his  plans,  during  the  battle  on  the  Horse 
Shoe,  by  recapturing  Tommy,  had  some  infiuence 
with   Lis   lather.     \Vhutever   the   reason    was,  I   was 


808  LIGHTNING   EXPKESS,   OB 

not  sent  for.  Father  and  I  worked  in  the  garden, 
^v]lero  there  was  enoncrh  for  both  of  xis  to  do.  He 
liad  money  enough  on  hand,  our  johit  earnings,  to 
bupport  the  family  f)r  some  months.  We  were  botli 
of  tlio  opinion  that  it  v.-as  not  prudent  to  apply  to 
Colonel  Winipleton  for  situations.  If  he  wanted  us, 
he  must  come  for  us. 

While  we  were  thus  waitincf  for  "  somethinsf  to 
turn  up,"  the  Ucayga,  the  new  Centreport  steamer, 
arrived.  She  was  certainly  a  magnificent  boat,  sur- 
jiassing  all  the  ideas  I  had  ever  formed  of  a  floating 
jialace.  I  went  over  to  see  her,  and  I  could  not 
but  realize  that  she  would  be  a  formidable  rival  of 
the  Lightning  Express,  even  if  she  did  require 
lialf  an  hour  longer  to  make  the  trip.  On  her 
passage  down  the  hike,  she  had  made  sixteen  miles 
an  hour  without  pressing;  but  as  half  her  freight 
and  passengers  depended  upon  Ruoara,  she  was  to 
be  allowed  an  hour  and  three  quarters  for  the  trip, 
against  an  hour  and  a  quarter  required  to  make 
the  passage  by  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad. 

Flaming  posters  about  the  streets  of  Centreport 
auuouuced  that  the  Ucayga  would  leave  at  quarter 


THE    RIVAL    ACADEMIES,  309 

past  eight,  and  connect  with  the  trains  east  and 
west  at  the  foot  of  the  lake.  It  all  looked  very 
pretty,  but  the  battle  was  yet  to  be  fought.  The 
competition  was  for  through-passengers.  When  the 
boats  from  Ilitaca  reached  Centreport  twice  each 
day,  the  question  with  travellers  was  to  be,  wheth- 
er they  would  go  to  Ucayga  by  the  new  steamer 
or  by  the  railroad.  The  boats  from  up  the  lake 
usually  arrived  at  quarter  past  eight  and  quarter 
past  two,  allowing  fifteen  minutes  at  Centrepoit, 
and  fifteen  more  to  land  their  passengers  at  Mid- 
dleport.  If  the  Ucayga  could  get  oft"  on  time,  she 
was  safe  enouG;h  on  her  connections.  It  was  a 
question  of  minutes  and  seconds  on  which  tlie  suc- 
cess of  the  steamboat  enterprise  depended.  But 
of  the  hard-fought  battle  which  ensued,  I  shall  speak 
in   another  story  —  "On  Time," 

Everybody  in  Centreport  and  Middleport  was  ex- 
cited over  the  impending  contest,  fur  it  was  still 
a  battle  between  the  two  sides  of  the  lake.  Major 
Tdppleton  professed  to  be  entirely  confident  of  the 
result,  and  mysteriously  hinted  at  resources  for  win- 
ning the   race  which    had    not    yet    been    developed. 


810  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS,   OB 

The  TJcayga  made  her  first  trip  crowded  with  pas- 
sengers, wliile  the  Lightning  Express  train  was  com- 
paratively deserted.  Still  the  major  was  confident, 
declaring  that  "a  new  broom  sweeps  clean,"  but 
the  passengers  would  soon  return  to  the  railroad, 
especially  during  the  approaching  winter,  when  the 
steamer  was  liable  to  be  troubled  with  ice  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  lake. 

But  a  shadow  soon  came  over  the  dream  of 
Colonel  Wirapleton,  who  boasted  grandiloquently 
over  his  success.  The  up-lake  boats  began  to  be 
regularly  ten  minutes  late ;  and  one  day,  in  spite 
of  all  the  crowding  done  on  board  of  the  Ucayga, 
she  missed  her  connections.  Then  she  did  it  again, 
and  again,  and  i^Goj^le  would  not  trust  her.  Steam- 
er stock  went  down.  As  Major  Toj^pleton's  hopes 
rose,  Colonel  "Wimpleton's  fell.  It  was  plain  enough 
now  that  the  major  required  the  Hitaca  boats  to  be 
ten  minutes  late.  The  colonel  swore  terribly  when 
he  realized  the  nature  of  the  trick. 

As  my  connection  with  the  Lightning  Express 
had  ceased,  it  would  not  be  proper  for  me  to  re- 
main any  longer  under  that  flag;   and   I  must  take 


THE   RIVAL   ACADEMIES.  3H 

leave  of  the    Lake    Shore   Railroad    for  the   present, 
to  forage  in  a  ne^y  field. 

About  the  time  the  Ucayga  arrived  at  Centre- 
port,  Tommy  Toppleton  was  able  to  leave  the 
house  on  ciiitches.  The  only  word  the  major 
had  spoken  to  me  since  our  interview  in  his  man- 
sion, was  to  tell  me  that  I  had  lamed  his  son  for 
life.  I  did  not  believe  this,  and  it  was  a  great  sat- 
isfaction for  me  to  hear  the  doctor  say  that  Tom- 
ray's  leg  would  be  as  good  as  ever  in  a  few  weeks. 
I  hoped  his  sufferings  would  do  him  good,  and  do 
something  to  modify  his  arbitrary  character. 

I  need  hardly  say  that  the  rival  Academies  were 
still  rivals.  Neither  was  satisfied  with  the  result 
of  the  battles  on  the  Horse  Shoe,  and  each  was 
thirsting  for  an  opportunity  to  ovcrwheliu  the 
other.  I  could  not  justify  myself  for  giving  the 
details  of  this  miserable  warfare,  if  it  were  not  for 
contrasting  it  Avith  the  glorious  peace  and  frater- 
nity which  grew  out  of  it. 

Tommy  was,  perhaps,  as    unpopular   us  ever ;    but 

his  misfortune,  if  it  did   not  excite  the  sympathy  of 
the  Toppletonians,  i^revented  them   from  manifesting 


312  lilGHTNIXG    EXPRESS. 

their  feelings  in  a  mutiny,  as  they  intended,  at  my 
discharge.  I  am  happy  to  say  that  I  stood  first 
rate  with  the  students  on  the  Middlcport  side,  when 
Tommy  and  his  flithcr  had  done  their  worst ;  but 
the  mutiny  came  at  last,  when  Tommy's  tyranny 
could  be  no  longer  endured.  I  was  satisfied.  I 
shall  always  remember  with  pleasure  most  of  my 
experience  on  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  and  espe- 
cially on  the  LiGHT^^mG  ExruEss. 


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By  the  Author  of  "Amateur  Dramas." 

tHE  READING-CLUB  AND   HANDY  SPEAKER. 

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"Life  and  Nature  are  as  charminK  In  small  editions,  and  sometimes 
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C3-EO.    1^.    b.-^k:ei?.'s 


Selections  in  Prose  and  Poetry, 

Serious,    Humorous,    Pathp:tic,    Patriotic,    and   Dramatic.      FRESH 

and  ATTRACTIVE  PIECES   for  SCHOOL   SPEAKERS 

and  READING   CIRCLES. 

In  the  words  of  the  Gospel  Banner,  — 

'  From  grave  to  gay,  from  lively  to  severe' 
In  poetry  and  prose  ajiuUcious  mixture  here  } 
Jjeside  outlandish  dialects,  full  of  irords  odd  and  queer^ 
Which  stir  one's  sense  of  humor  as  they  fall  upon  the  ear^ 
I'leasant  to  those  who  read  or  speak  as  unto  thvse  who  hear. 

Published  in  Parts,  each  Part  containing  Fifty  Selections.      Paper  Covers,  15 

cents  each.     Printed  on  Fine  Paper,  and  Handsomely  Bound  in  Cloth,  price, 

SO  cents  each. 

1  *■»  I ' 

I?,EA.I3IISrO    CLXJB    3sro.    1. 

'•tVe  have  many  readers  and  books  that  purport  to  furnish  pieces  for  the  use 
of  amateur  speakers  and  juvenile  orators.  But  the  great  defect  in  nearly  all  of 
them  is,  that  their  selections  are  made  from  the  same  series  of  authors.  We  are 
surfeited  ad  naiiseatn  with  '  The  boy  stood  on  the  burning  deck, '  '  On  Linden, 
when  the  sun  was  low,'  'My  name  is  Norval  ! '  or,  '  My  voice  is  still  for  war.' 
But  in  this  volume,  the  first  of  a  series,  Mr.  Baker  deviates  from  the  beaten 
track,  and  furnishes  some  fifty  selections  which  have  not  been  published  before 
in  any  collection  of  readings.  Mr.  Baker  has  himself  written  many  pieces  for  the 
amateur  stage,  and  achieved  a  reputation  as  a  public  reader,  so  that  he  is  eminently 
qualified  by  his  own  experience  for  the  task  of  teaching  others."  —  i'hil.  Age. 

I?,E-A.r5IlNrC3-    CLTTB    OSTO.    3. 

"Mr.  Baker  deserves  the  thanks  of  the  reading  public  for  his  indefatigable 
endeavors  in  the  field  of  light  and  agreeable  literature.  The  selections  are  made 
with  good  taste,  and  the  book  will  be  of  great  value  for  its  indicated  purpose." — 
New  Haven  Courier. 

"  In  its  adaptation  to  day  schools,  seminaries,  colleges,  and  home  reading,  the 
work  will  be  found  very  superior  in  its  variety  and  adaptability  of  contents." — 
Dayton  {,Ohio)  Press. 

E,EA.I3IN-0    CLTJB    UNTO-    3. 

"This  is  one  of  those  books  that  our  teachers  ought  to  have  at  hand  to  spice 
uf>  with  now  and  then.  This  is  No.  3  of  the  series,  and  they  are  all  brim  full 
of  short  articles,  serious,  humorous,  pathetic,  patriotic,  and  dramatic.  Send  and 
get  one,  and  you  will  be  sure  to  get  the  rest."  —  St.  Louis  Journal  of  Educa- 
tion, Jan.  1876. 

"The  young  elocutionist  will  find  it  a  convenient  pocket  companion,  and  the 
general  reader  derive  much  amusement  at  odd  moments  fi-om  its  perusal."  — 
Forest''^  Streavi,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  6,  1876. 

.K,E.A.I3I3?TC3-    CXjXTB    35TO-    4-       (.J^^t  Heady.) 


Seldhy  all  Booksellers,  and  sent  hy  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  price. 

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ELIJAH  KELLOGG'S  BOOKS. 


FOEEST  GLEN  SERIES.    To  be  completed  in  six 

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Sowed  by  the  Wixd. 

Wolf  Run. 

Brouoht  to  the  Fro^'t. 

The  Mission  of  Black  Rifle. 

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PLEASANT    COVE    SERIES.     Six  vols.     Illus- 
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Ahthub  Bhowx,  the  Youxg  Captain. 

The  Youxo  Deliverers. 

The  Cruise  of  the  Casco. 

Child  of  the  Island  Glen. 

John  Godsoe's  Legacy. 

Fisher  Boys  of  Pleasant  Cove. 

THE  WHISPERING  PINE  SERIES.    Six  vols.  • 

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The  Spark  of  Genius;  or,  The  College  Life 

of  James  Trafton. 
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The  WnisPEuiNG  Pine;  or,  The  Graduates  of 

Radcliffe. 
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Trial. 
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AND  HIS  Patients. 
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Lion  Ben  of  Elm  Island. 

Charlie  Bell. 

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LEE  &  SIIEPAKD,  PubUsliers,  Bostou. 


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